The Bulldog football team wound down its 2023 regular season Friday on the road with an overall dominant performance against Santa Teresa, ending the contest at the half, 53-0.
The ‘Dogs set the tone for the abbreviated bout 17 seconds in as Matthew Saiz returned the game’s opening kick 90 yards for a score. Once the Artesia offense got their turn, they’d find the end zone on their first play from scrimmage by way of a 77-yard pass from senior quarterback Nye Estrada to Izac Cazares. Frankie Galindo tacked on the conversion run to make it 14-0.
Artesia would score thrice more in the first quarter, first on an untouched 61-yard scamper by Galindo and then on a 50-yard pick six by Josiah Rodriguez. The Orange Crush wasn’t done contributing points to the board, however, as — following a fumble recovery at the Desert Warrior 25-yard line by Grant Johnson — safety Jesse Armendariz fired a 25-yard touchdown pass to cornerback David Hammond to make it 35-0.
With the second quarter starting under the 35-point mercy-rule clock, things moved swiftly from there, but not fast enough to prevent Artesia from tacking 18 more points to its total.
Galindo got the ball rolling with a big 50-yard TD run, and Rodriguez followed with a punt block into the end zone for a safety to put the Bulldogs on top 44-0 with 4:55 to go in the first half. Junior QB Cazares then found Diego Lopez from 20 yards out to take the ‘Dogs over the 50-point mark, 51-0, with 3:33 on the clock.
Another safety rounded out the final, 53-0, on a Cody Johnson tackle in the end zone.
With the mercy-rule win, the Bulldogs improved to 7-0 on the season as they prepare to head into their open week in preparation for the impending start of District 4-AAAAA play. The ‘Dogs will open Oct. 13 against Roswell High at Wool Bowl.
