The Artesia Bulldog football starts homecoming with the traditional Dog Pile before the Sept. 20, 2024 homecoming game against Gadsden.
The Bulldogs did not get the start they wanted Friday night, but they made sure the Eddy County War did not get away quietly.
Artesia trailed by 20 points at halftime, rallied behind two second-half touchdowns from running back Cristian Pando, and put itself in position late before falling to Carlsbad 20-13 at the Bulldog Bowl.
The Bulldogs (0-1) struggled to get drives started in the first half, but their defense kept Carlsbad off the scoreboard after halftime and gave Artesia a chance to make it a one-possession game in the fourth quarter.
“We got beaten 20-0 in the first half,” Artesia coach Jeremy Maupin said. “We could not get any drives started offensively. It was a really tough night offensively, especially. I thought our defense really came out. I thought Carlsbad had a real good game plan to control the clock, and the first drive was over half of the first quarter.”
Carlsbad controls first half
Carlsbad made Artesia play from behind from the opening drive. Cavemen quarterback Marley Munoz kept the first series alive on third-and-15, running for 21 yards and a first down. Carlsbad turned the drive into a 3-yard touchdown run with 7:12 left in the first quarter.
The Cavemen slowed the game down by controlling the line of scrimmage and forcing the Bulldogs to chase the scoreboard. Carlsbad rushed for 175 yards on 42 carries, with Brock Wright and Munoz giving Artesia problems most of the first half.
Wright added an 18-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and Lennon Ananin’s point-after touchdown gave Carlsbad a 13-0 lead with 4:27 left before halftime. On the next possession, with Artesia loading the box to stop the run, Munoz faked a handoff to Wright and hit Jaden Harper for a 59-yard touchdown pass with 2:18 left in the second quarter.
By halftime, Carlsbad led 20-0, and Artesia had managed only four possessions.
Bulldogs answer after halftime
Artesia opened the second half with a punt, but the Bulldogs found something on their next possession. Pando finished the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run, cutting Carlsbad’s lead to 20-6 and giving Artesia life.
The Bulldogs’ defense kept giving the offense chances, holding Carlsbad scoreless in the second half. Pando scored again in the fourth quarter on a 5-yard run, and the point-after made it 20-13.
Artesia recovered an onside kick in the fourth quarter and put pressure on Carlsbad, but the Bulldogs could not finish the comeback after digging out of the first-half hole.
Senior quarterback Lucas Atkins found more rhythm in the second half after Artesia passed for minus-3 yards before halftime, but Carlsbad’s early control forced the Bulldogs to spend the rest of the night trying to catch up.
The Bulldog do the Dog Pile before the Eddy County War on Friday night at the Bulldog Bowl.
By the numbers
Artesia picked up 10 first downs and rushed for 84 yards on 20 carries. Atkins completed 17 passes for 91 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The Bulldogs were penalized eight times for 62 yards and finished 2 of 13 on third down and 2 of 5 on fourth down.
Cavemen close it out
Carlsbad coach Cale Sanders said the win was a confidence boost for the Cavemen after they opened the season with a rivalry victory.
“It is a great win for the kids,” Sanders said. “For me, I feel like we should be doing this anyway, so it is a great confidence booster for the season coming up. It feels really good to get started 1-0.”
Up next
Artesia plays Hobbs at 7 p.m. Friday at Watson Memorial Stadium.