Mike Smith
Artesia Daily Press
msmith@currentargus.com

Artesia senior quarterback Izac Cazares broke a tie in the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs edged the Mayfield Trojans 42-28 Saturday (Nov. 2) at the Field of Dreams in Las Cruces in the 2024 regular season finale.

The win upped Artesia’s overall record to 7-3 and finished District 5-2A with a 6-1 record.

The loss drops Mayfield’s overall record to 4-6 overall and 3-4 in league action.

The Bulldogs are the No. 2 seed in the 5A playoffs and are off until the week of Nov. 15 and Nov. 16.

Artesia hosts either No. 7 Lovington or No. 10 Goddard, both teams play each other at 1 p.m. Saturday in Lovington in the opening round.

The Trojans challenged the Bulldogs throughout the game. Tied at 28 in the final quarter, Cazares led Artesia on a six play 42-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown run with 6:51 left in the game.

Korbyn Dominguez converted the extra point kick as Artesia regained the lead 35-28.

Artesia’s defense stopped the Trojans first drive of the fourth quarter as Cazares engineered the insurance policy for the Bulldogs.

On the second offensive drive of the fourth quarter, he scored on a 48-yard touchdown run with 54 seconds left in the game.

Dominguez converted the extra point kick as Artesia claimed the victory.

Cazares amassed 425 yards in total offense for the Bulldogs.

He carried the football 14 times for 195 yards and completed 11 of 20 passes for 230 yards.

This season was his first as the fulltime starter. Last year he played quarterback in some spots, as senior Nye Estrada helped the Bulldogs get into the playoffs and win the state title.

“He had a great game,” said Bulldog head coach Jeremy Maupin after the game.

“(Cazares) showed off his athleticism and led the way.”

Maupin said the 6-foot-2 senior was the definition of a dual threat quarterback with his passing and rushing skills.

“He can sling it. He is a matchup nightmare,” Maupin said.

Cazares rushed for four touchdowns and passed for two touchdowns in the victory.

Ethan Conn was Artesia’s leading receiver with four catches for 84 yards with one touchdown catch.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

Artesia- Izac Cazares 6-yard pass to Jack Byers, Corbyn Dominguez kick, 6:54, 7-0.

Artesia- Cazares 47-yard run, Corbyn Dominguez kick, 3:07, 14-0.

Mayfield- Luke Linnan 33-yard run, Jeffrey Dominguez kick, 14-7, 1:55

Artesia- Cazares 60-yard pass to Ethan Conn, Dominguez kick, 21-7, 1:13.

2nd Quarter

Mayfield-Justin Madrid 10-yard run, Jeffrey Dominguez kick, 21-14, 9:13.

3rd Quarter

Mayfield- Linnan 42-yard run, Jeffrey Dominguez kick, 21-21, 4:27.

Artesia- Cazares 13-yard run, Corbyn Dominguez kick, 28-21, 2:32.

4th Quarter

Mayfield- Anthony Nevarez 39-yard run, Jeffrey Dominguez kick, 28-28, 9:47.

Artesia- Cazares 14-yard run, Corbyn Dominguez kick, 35-28, 6:51.

Artesia- Cazares 48-yard run, Corbyn Dominguez kick, 42-28, :54.

Offensive Stars of the Game

Passing: Cazares 11/20 230 yards, 2TDs

Receiving: Conn 4-catches 84 yards, 1TD

Rushing:Cazares 14-carries 195-yards, 4TDs

Defensive Stars of the Game

Grant Johnson 6 1/2 sacks

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-308-8734 or email at msmith@currentargus.com.