The Artesia Bulldogs rolled on to the Class 5A state semifinal round Saturday with a dominant 57-14 victory over No. 7 Los Alamos.
The ‘Dogs jumped on the Hilltoppers early, scoring two-and-a-half minutes into the game and making it 14-0 three-and-a-half minutes later. Los Alamos was able to cut Artesia’s lead in half as the second quarter began, but the boys in orange responded 43 seconds later to prevent a momentum swing. They’d score twice more in the second to lead 36-7 at the break.
The Bulldogs set the 35-point mercy-rule clock in motion on a pick six early in the third and tacked on a touchdown by the second-string offense to make it 50-7. The ‘Toppers were able to break a long run in the final seconds of the third to add seven to their tally, but a score by the Artesia sophomores with 5:33 remaining in the game rounded out the final, 57-14.
With the win, the ‘Dogs improve to 10-1 on the year as they prepare to host third-ranked Piedra Vista in a rematch of last year’s 5A title game. The Panthers bested No. 6 Valley 30-6 Friday and will come into next Saturday’s 1 p.m. semifinal at Bulldog Bowl with a record of 6-5.
Elsewhere in the 5A playoffs, No. 5 Deming upset fourth-ranked Goddard 33-0 Saturday at Wool Bowl, while top-ranked Roswell High mercy-ruled No. 9 Mayfield 50-0 Friday at Wool Bowl.
