The first Friday of the season gave Artesia plenty to sort through on film. There were missed chances, stalled drives and protection issues, but there also was enough second-half push to show the Bulldogs have something to build on.
The next step is not sweeping change. It is sharpening the details that showed up in the opener and turning those late opportunities into a cleaner, faster start the next time out.
Start faster on offense
The first thing is simple to say and hard to do: start faster. The Bulldogs produced 191 yards of total offense, but they were held scoreless in the first half before putting together a rally with 5:40 left in the third quarter.
That cannot be the weekly script. Artesia does not have to score on the first snap or force the issue early, but it does need to find rhythm sooner, stay ahead of the chains and give its defense a little breathing room.
Protect the passer
The second area is protection. The Bulldogs gave up four sacks at inopportune times, and the quarterback was pressured on passing downs. That is never just one player. It is protection, communication, timing, route spacing, and getting the ball out on schedule.
The passing numbers were not bad for an opener. The quarterback completed 18 of 34 passes for 143 yards, with one touchdown and one interception, and completed 62 percent of his throws. The next step is giving the passing game cleaner pockets and more manageable situations.
Finish drives
The third area is finishing. In the fourth quarter, Artesia had four chances to score a touchdown. That is the kind of fight coaches want to see. It also is the kind of opportunity the Bulldogs will want to turn into points as the season moves along.
One way to help is to give Cristian Pando more opportunities to work. Pando carried 14 times for 42 yards, had a long run of 14 yards, and scored Artesia’s touchdown. That does not mean forcing the ball. It means letting the run game help settle everything else down.
There is no need to overreact after one game. The Bulldogs showed fight; they found life in the second half, and they gave themselves chances late. Clean up the slow start, protect better on passing downs, and finish drives, and the next story can look a lot different.