A high school football player in an orange-and-black uniform leaps into the air above a large group of teammates and opponents in blue-and-white uniforms with his hands outstretched, preparing to catch a mid-air football.

Bulldog football punches ticket to state semifinals

Brienne Green

November 17, 2024

The Bulldog football team punched its ticket to the Class 5A State Semifinals Saturday at Bulldog Bowl with a dominant 45-7 win over #7 Lovington.

From a momentum-grabbing interception to a punt block, a fumble scoop for a touchdown to an onside kick recovery, the hits just kept on coming. Every phase of the game got in on the scoring action in Saturday's quarterfinal bout, and the Orange Crush defense held Lovington at bay through the final three quarters in a big playoff debut for the 'Dogs.

The Wildcats came out with a clock-killing strategy that proved effective through the bulk of the first quarter, chewing all but 2:30 off the clock before scoring on a one-yard run by quarterback Mathew Prudencio. Two minutes proved to be plenty of time for Artesia's high-powered offense, however, as the 'Dogs moved quickly upfield en route to a five-yard TD charge by senior QB Izac Cazares at the 32-second mark that tied the game at 7-all.

A high school football player in an orange-and-black uniform runs into the end zone with the ball tucked under his arm past two defenders in blue-and-white uniforms.
PICTURED: Izac Cazares sails into the end zone for the five-yard score.
(Photo Courtesy Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

The 'Dogs kept the 'Cats on the ropes with an interception by Kaden Grantham -- who leapt from the scrum to snag a tipped Prudencio pass attempt out of mid-air -- that led to a four-yard touchdown pass from Cazares to Diego Lopez. And Artesia swung the momentum even further in its direction three minutes later when, following a punt block by Axel Hartley, running back Frankie Galindo darted in from the two for another TD. Galindo proceeded to deliver a jump pass to a waiting Ayden Huffman in the end zone for a conversion that erased a missed two-point attempt on the previous score to put the Bulldogs up 21-7.

A high school football player in an orange-and-black uniform leaps into the air above a large group of teammates and opponents in blue-and-white uniforms with his hands outstretched, preparing to catch a mid-air football.
PICTURED: Kaden Grantham leaps to pick off a tipped pass.
(Photo Courtesy Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

The 'Dogs breached the Wildcat red zone in their next drive as well, bumping their lead to 17 on a 33-yard field goal from Corbyn Dominguez. That kick came with 2:07 remaining in the half, but the boys in orange weren't quite finished, as Rafael Orozco scooped up a fumbled Lovington snap and dove over the goal line from the five to set the halftime score: 31-7.

A high school football player in an orange-and-black uniform dives over the goal line while holding the football with an opponent in a blue-and-white uniform hanging from his back.
PICTURED: Rafael Orozco dives into the end zone for the fumble-recovery score.
(Photo Courtesy Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

All that remained was for the Bulldogs to keep the pedal down in the second half, and they made clear from the word go that there would be no cruise control in use on their playoff road.

No sooner did the second-half kick go airborne than Ethan Conn was powering out of the starburst and putting on the afterburners, speeding 91 yards up the home sideline for a touchdown 17 seconds into the third quarter. And after Dominguez showed off his versatility by recovering his own onside kick, Galindo ran in his second touchdown of the day from the three to make it 45-7 and put the 35-point mercy-rule clock in motion with 8:09 remaining in the third.

A high school football player in an orange-and-black uniform looks out toward the field as he runs with the ball down the home sideline.
PICTURED: Ethan Conn surveys the field amidst a 91-yard KOR touchdown.
(Photo Courtesy Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

A high school football player in an orange-and-black uniform runs with the football as four opponents in blue-and-white uniforms watch him from behind.
PICTURED: Frankie Galindo leaves the defense behind him on a three-yard touchdown run.
(Photo Courtesy Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

That would make the fourth quarter a speedy one, as Artesia's back-ups took the field and did a solid job closing out the contest. As the defense continued to hold the Wildcats scoreless, the offense moved the ball well, with Dominguez just missing on a 56-yard field-goal attempt.

With the victory, the Bulldogs improved to 8-3 on the season as they prepare for a rematch with #6 Mayfield at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at Bulldog Bowl. The 'Dogs defeated the Trojans (6-6) 42-28 in the teams' District 2-AAAAA meeting. Mayfield has thus far made its way through #11 Belen, 53-7 in the opening round, and #3 Deming, 21-7 in a quarterfinal Friday night in Deming.

Tickets are on sale now via Artesia's GoFan page.

SCORING SUMMARY

FIRST QUARTER
• Lovington - Mathew Prudencio 1-run (Caleb Aranda kick good), 2:30
• Artesia - Izac Cazares 5-run (Corbyn Dominguez kick good), :32
SECOND QUARTER
• Artesia - Diego Lopez 4-pass from Cazares (run fails), 9:33
• Artesia - Frankie Galindo 2-run (Galindo to Ayden Huffman pass good), 6:21
• Artesia - Corbyn Dominguez 33-field goal, 2:07
• Artesia - Rafael Orozco 5-fumble return (Dominguez kick good), 1:21
THIRD QUARTER
• Artesia - Ethan Conn 91-kick return (Dominguez kick good), 11:43
• Artesia - Frankie Galindo 3-run (Dominguez kick good), 8:09