The Class 5A top-ranked Artesia Bulldogs overcame a bit of a shaky start Friday on the road to handle fifth-ranked Deming by a 28-point margin, 54-26.
The ‘Dogs scored out of the gate, going up 8-0 just one minute into the game, but the Wildcats proved they came to play, answering both Artesia’s first touchdown and their second to trail by just one, 15-14, going into the second quarter.
The Bulldog D provided a momentum swing with a safety to start the second, then held the ‘Cats scoreless while the offense built a 32-14 lead by the break.
Deming came out firing with a score on their first play from scrimmage in the third, but Artesia settled in to take a 47-20 advantage into the fourth. Both squads visited the end zone in the final 12 minutes to round out the final, 54-26.
With the win, the boys in orange improve to 4-0 on the season while the ‘Cats drop to 2-2. Artesia will host Class 6A Cleveland — who bested Las Cruces High 42-13 tonight — at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, at Bulldog Bowl in a battle of the big-class number ones and MaxPrep’s top two teams in the state regardless of classification.
