If any program knows what it takes to win a state championship, it’s Artesia. The Bulldogs fell to Los Lunas in the New Mexico 5A State Championship last fall, but the title-game defeat was one of very few in the program’s extensive championship history — Artesia has captured the trophy a whopping 30 times.
Yet it is not only the team’s track record as a New Mexico powerhouse that invites optimism about its upcoming season; Los Lunas has reclassified into Class 6A for 2022 — and presumably many seasons to come — leaving Artesia with one less obstacle along the path to its 31st championship.
After finishing 2-3 during an abbreviated spring 2020-21 season, the Bulldogs bounced back to a dominant 9-4 overall record in 2021. Two of Artesia’s losses last year came at the hands of larger 6A opponents: Carlsbad and Cleveland, the reigning 6A State Champions. Roswell delivered the Bulldogs’ only loss in District 4-5A competition by a tight 30-29 margin.
Otherwise, the Artesia offense delivered several high-scoring wins, defeating district foe Alamogordo 47-7 and solidifying a place in the state title game with a 57-14 victory over Farmington in the playoffs. Against Farmington, Artesia scored 13 points in the final 69 seconds before halftime to pull away from a 14-14 tie. The Bulldog defense kept Farmington out of the end zone throughout the entire second half.
Eight members of last year’s Bulldog squad earned 5A All-State honors. Seniors Zaden Lopez, Jacob Barrera and Luis Pando received first team honors, Joseph Johnson, Jacob Velazquez and Nathan Taylor were named to the second team, and Nahum Loya was an honorable mention.
Rising senior Rylee Jarratt earned second team honors and returns this season to the Bulldogs at defensive end.
The 2022 season marks the second year head coach Jeremy Maupin will lead the program. Maupin, like the Bulldogs, is no stranger to the state championship game. Prior to taking over at Artesia, he spent four year years at the helm of the Los Lunas program, leading the team to back-to-back championship appearances in Class 5A in 2018 and 2019 before squaring off against them last season.
Closer to home, Maupin won two consecutive state championships while a Bulldog athlete himself. He graduated from Artesia in 2005. Before heading to Los Lunas, Maupin was an assistant coach on the Artesia staff.
Kicking off the season next week, Artesia will look to avoid a repeat of last year’s season-opening loss to rival Carlsbad. Opportunities to avenge its defeats by Cleveland and Roswell come on Sept. 16 and Oct. 14, respectively.
Players to watch
Senior defensive end Rylee Jarratt returns after earning All-State honors last year.
Schedule
Aug. 19, Carlsbad, 7 p.m.
Aug. 26, at Hobbs, 7 p.m.
Sept. 2, Belen, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9, Deming, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16, at Cleveland, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23, Santa Teresa, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14, Roswell, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21, at Goddard, 7 p.m.
Oct. 29, at Mayfield, 7 p.m.
