By Mike Smith
El Rito Media

Ethan Conn caught three touchdown passes and quarterback Izac Cazares led a balanced offensive attack as the Artesia Bulldogs defeated the Carlsbad Cavemen 44-7 Friday night in the 2024 high school football season opener for both squads.

For the Bulldogs (1-0) the win continues a longstanding tradition of victories as Artesia aims for its third straight 5A state title and 33rd overall.

Early in the first quarter, Carlsbad’s defense held the Bulldogs on Artesia’s first offensive drive of the game.

But the Cavemen offense could not find footing on its opening offensive drive of the game and had to punt, setting up Artesia’s first score of the game.

Cazares threw an 87-yard strike to Conn at the midpoint of the first quarter on Artesia’s second drive of the game. The Bulldogs 2-point conversion was successful as Artesia had an early 8-0 lead.

Artesia struck again late in the first quarter as running back Frankie Galindo scored on a 31-yard touchdown run. The 2-point conversion was good as the Bulldogs extended the lead 16-0.

In the second quarter, Artesia delivered a knockout punch to the Cavemen (0-1) as Diego Lopez caught a 12-yard pass from Cazares. The Bulldogs converted the extra point kick and extended the lead 23-0.

The Bulldog defense swarmed Carlsbad’s offense for most of the game. The Cavemen’s lone score came early in the fourth quarter as Ty Young scored on a 19-yard pass. The extra point kick was good, but the Bulldogs extended the winning streak over its southern rivals to three games.

At 7 p.m. Thursday in Roswell, Carlsbad seeks its first win of 2024 against the Goddard Rockets.

At 7 p.m. Friday in Hobbs, the Bulldogs play the Eagles in the first game of a two-game road trip.

Mike Smith can be reached by phone at 575-308-8734 or via email at msmith@currentargus.com and can be followed on X @MSmithartesianm.