If Artesia wants to beat Hobbs on Friday night, the assignment is simple and unforgiving: score. Not a little. A lot. In bunches.
The Eagles walked out of the Wool Bowl on Friday with a 64-60 loss to Roswell, a game that featured 14 lead changes and felt at times like a video game set to “No defense allowed.”
That is the kind of night that puts pressure on everybody — offense, defense and special teams. It also puts the spotlight on senior quarterback Lucas Atkins, who has a chance to put his stamp on the game and on this Artesia team.
Hobbs showed against Roswell that it can score from anywhere. The Eagles also showed there are yards to be had. Artesia cannot get cute, cannot get conservative, and cannot leave points on the field.
Here are three keys to victory for the ’Dogs.
1. Slow the run, make Hobbs earn it
The first job is to slow down Hobbs’ rushing attack, which did plenty of damage against Roswell. Running back Jesse Nelson scored two touchdowns and rushed for 123 yards on five carries. Dual-threat quarterback Junior Medrano carried 18 times for 141 yards and also completed 14 of 18 passes for 265 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception.
Hobbs rushed for 333 yards on 33 attempts, so the Bulldogs have to win early downs, tackle cleanly and force the Eagles into longer situations. Artesia also has to know where sophomore wide receiver Bradan Dunlap is at all times after he scored three receiving touchdowns. Make Hobbs drive the field. Make the Eagles execute snap after snap. Do not hand them explosives.
2. Let Pando cook
This is the kind of game made for Pando, a running back who runs hard, finishes forward, and can punish a defense when he gets touches in rhythm. He scored Artesia’s two touchdowns last week on runs of 5 and 6 yards. Against a Hobbs defense that gave up yards by land and air, Pando should have room to work as both a runner and a receiver.
If Artesia can establish him early, it can settle Atkins, protect the defense, and keep Hobbs from turning the night into a track meet on its own terms. This is a perfect setting for Pando to announce that his senior year will be a problem for opposing defenses.
Artesia running back Cristian Pando goes airborne after being hit by Carlsbad linebacker Colton McKibben and safety Josiah Funetes at the Bulldog Bowl during the season opener.
3. Stay aggressive on offense
Roswell put up 694 yards of total offense against Hobbs. That number should have Artesia’s attention.
The Coyotes rushed for 339 yards on 33 carries and threw for 355 more. That is balance, and it is also a blueprint. Artesia has to attack the whole field, take what Hobbs gives and keep pressing when it gets a lead.
This is not a game for empty possessions. It is not a game for third-and-long mistakes. It is a game for clean tempo, sharp execution, and touchdowns instead of field-position wins.
Hobbs also turned the ball over twice in the loss to Roswell, and that matters. If the Bulldogs steal a possession, they have to turn it into points. If they get a short field, they have to cash it in.
This one has the feel of a game that could come down to who has the ball last. Artesia’s job is to make sure that, no matter when that moment comes, the Bulldogs have already done enough damage to walk out with a win.
The Bulldogs will play the Hobbs Eagles at 7 p.m. Friday at Watson Memorial Stadium.