Class 5A championship preview: Artesia looks to flip the script against Roswell

Nov. 24—Through 73 years of officially recognized state football champions by the New Mexico Activities Association, it's never come to this.

And over the course of a century (plus) of football games between these two rivals, separated by 40 miles of US 285, there has perhaps never been a meeting between them quite equal to this one.

It seems only fitting then that New Mexico's most iconic football venue should settle the great Artesia-Roswell debate of 2023.

Historic Bulldog Bowl is the site of the Class 5A title game at 1 p.m. Saturday, as the top-ranked Coyotes (12-0) and second-ranked Bulldogs (11-1) meet for the first time in an NMAA football final.

"I think our guys are ready, they're excited, it's the state game, and we're excited about the opportunity to play Roswell again," Bulldogs coach Jeremy Maupin said. "A championship game at home is just a special feeling."

When Artesia and the Coyotes last met, it was a Friday the 13th in October, and the Bulldogs probably felt hexed throughout as Roswell rolled to a 29-8 victory at the Wool Bowl. The Coyotes' staunch defense controlled the evening, pitching an extremely rare shutout against a potent Artesia offense. The Bulldogs' only score was a defensive one in the fourth quarter, and it was already 29-0 by then.

The Artesia message in the rematch? Finish.

The Bulldogs drove the ball repeatedly into the red zone six weeks ago, including twice inside the Roswell 10, only to see the unyielding Coyotes repel their advances. That was the difference.

"We have to finish drives, that has to be the word," Maupin said.

Maupin and Roswell coach Jeff Lynn both expect the Bulldogs to be sharper and more efficient this time.

"They'll obviously be adjustments," Lynn said, "but at the end of the day, you are who are. You're not gonna get away from the things that you've done well all year. It's a bit of a chess match, and the ball is kind of in their court."

The veteran Roswell defense has been superior to every offense it has faced. The Coyotes have had only 73 points scored on them in 12 games, and as noted, not all of those points are pinned on that defensive unit. Moreover, Roswell has won every game by at least 21 points. Artesia is tasked with solving that defense.

"We gotta finish tackles. We gotta finish drives. We gotta finish the catch," Maupin said, the last item a reference to a couple of key drops. "Last game, I don't think we did a good job of those things."

Artesia quarterback Nye Estrada has thrown for 2,400 yards and 29 touchdowns this season. Junior receiver Ethan Conn has 14 TD catches among his 59 overall grabs.

But it is really junior tailback Frankie Galindo that bridges the gap between ground game and vertical game; he has rushed for almost 1,150 yards and 25 scores, but frequently produced big plays with runs after a catch in Artesia's short-game passing attack.

Roswell players said it was important to establish the physical edge in the first game, and now it is Artesia with that burden on Saturday.

"They really flipped the script on us," Maupin said. "Our guys kind of folded and got humbled. It was a good wake-up call for us. It re-focused our guys and got us going in the right direction."

Fullback Bryce Sanchez is the most obvious manifestation of how physical Roswell was with Artesia last month. The 200-pound Sanchez bulldozed his way for 187 yards in that victory, and is over 1,400 yards with 13 TDs for the year.

"Bryce will have to be Bryce," Lynn said. "They're so aggressive defensively, and put so many people on the line of scrimmage. ... It'll be really important how we play up front."

Said Maupin, "We have to match their physicality."

But Roswell QB Manny Fuentez presents plenty of issues of his own, particularly with his ability to extend plays and improvise. He has passed for 1,549 yards and 27 touchdowns this season.

"We've been talking to our kids. We don't need hero ball," Lynn said. "We need to do our job and we need to play hard. If we can do those things, then I think we'll be fine."

Certainly Bulldog Bowl will be a hostile environment on Saturday, and its reputation — that of being the toughest playoff road venue in the state — is well earned.

"You can tell they've re-focused (since the October game)," Lynn said. "We definitely have our hands full."