Mike Smith
Artesia Daily Press
msmith@currentargus.com

The Roswell Coyotes scored early against the Artesia Bulldogs Saturday at the Wool Bowl in Roswell and never looked back denying Artesia its 33rd state title and a three-peat in New Mexico’s 5A class winning 41-22.

The victory avenged a 35-21 loss in 2023 at the Bulldog Bowl in Artesia.

The Bulldogs last three-peat came in 1996-97-98.

Coyotes quarterback Jacob Palomino set the tone on Roswell’s opening drive of the first quarter scoring on a 62-yard run.

Francisco Guzman booted the extra point kick with 10:46 left in the opening period.

Seconds later Bulldog quarterback Izac Cazares answered Palmino’s score, as he ran for an 80-yard touchdown. The extra point kick was blocked as the Coyotes led 7-6.

Palomino scored his second touchdown of the quarter with under seven minutes left to play. Guzman kicked the extra point as Roswell exteneded the lead 14-7.

The Bulldogs could not find any offensive footing on its second drive of the first quarter. Fate though appeared to be on Artesia’s side as the Palomino fumbled on the Coyotes third drive of the period.

Cazares capped off a nine play drive with a 5-yard touchdown run. Artesia’s 2-point conversion failed as Roswell held on to a 14-12 lead.

In the second quarter, the sold-out crowd felt the momentum shifting to Roswell’s favor as the Coyotes capped off a 17-play drive, as Palomino struck 6-foot-3 wide reciever Madison Greathouse with a 5-yard pass. Guzman’s extra point kick was good as Roswell led 21-12 with 6:26 left before halftime.

More than two minutes later, Artesia’s Corbyn Dominguez booted a 32-yard field goal as the lead narrowed to 21-15.

Roswell widened the lead again as Palomino scored on a 2-yard run with 33 seconds left before halftime. The extra point was good as the lead was 28-15.

The Coyotes put the game away for good in the second half securing its first state title since 2019.

Artesia’s final touchdown of the game came with 7:01 left in the third quarter as senior running back Frankie Galindo caught at 40-yard pass.

Dominguez kicked the extra point for the Bulldogs.

Roswell head coach Jeff Lynn said the win was good for not only Roswell High School, but the community as a whole which is still recovering from flood damage suffered during an October storm.

“I’m just happy for these kids, everything they’ve overcome. I’m just super proud of our community and our school,” he said after the game as players, the parents and the community at large celebrated.

“I’m just super happy for these kids, that’s what its all about. For them to finish on top, that’s what it’s all about,” he said.

Bulldog head coach Jeremy Maupin said Artesia played good at times in the loss. But lacked consistency.

“We just need to be more consistent and wish we had another shot at them. We don’t have it this year, so we’ll have to wait another year,” he said after the Bulldogs accepted the second-place trophy.

Maupin said injuries to starting quarterback Izac Cazares and running back Bryce Parra did not help Artesia’s cause in the second half.

He said he was proud of the seniors as 34 of them played their final game in a Bulldog uniform, including Galindo.

After the game, Galindo said he wanted to motivate the team to another victory.

“I just never thought to give up. I just wanted to go 110 percent, I just wanted to keep on driving and I wanted to keep teammates up even thought their heads were down. I always wanted to be the positive person and leader of this group and bring everyone up and try to get something going, a spark,” he said.

Galindo thanked the coaches and the community for its support during his time in a Bulldog uniform.

Artesia wrapped the 2024 season with a 9-4 record and Roswell finished 11-1.

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