THE MOTTO FOR ARTESIA FOOTBALL IS ‘CULTURE’
The Artesia High School football team has ended the season holding the championship blue trophy 32 times, more than any other program in New Mexico. 32 times! The Bulldogs hope to make it 33 in 2024 as Artesia is looking for a three-peat. “Our motto this year is culture; culture accepted, and culture created,” said Artesia head coach Jeremy Maupin. “Getting to play in Artesia, you accept the expectations. This group is going to put their stamp on the history that is Artesia football. We’re going to accept what’s happened in the past, but we are paving a way that hopefully 20 years from now people will look back and say, ‘The 2024 Bulldogs were special.’ That’s what our guys have really bought into.”
This year’s roster will have 40 seniors, many of whom played a key role in the last two state championships (2022 and 2023). “We have 90 juniors and seniors on the varsity roster,” said Maupin. Running back Frankie Galindo returns and receiver Ethan Conn is back, both are seniors. Senior linebackers Grant Johnson and Ayden Huffman will anchor the Artesia defense, which only gave up 12 points a game last season and posted four shutouts. Seniors Kaden Grantham and Rafael Orozco will add pressure up front on the defensive line. “Those guys both helped us last year, so we’re excited,” said Maupin. “We have a really solid group of seniors to lead the way for those juniors.”
Offensively, Izac Cazares will take over quarterback duties. Cazares played slot receiver for the Bulldogs last year. “We have some new offensive lineman, but they’ve had a really good spring and summer,” said Maupin.
Artesia is in a larger 8-team district with Deming, Gadsden, Goddard, Lovington, Mayfield, Roswell, and Santa Teresa. “There’s a lot of good teams and hopefully we can make another run at it,” he said.
The Bulldogs open the season at home on August 23rd against Carlsbad.
Highlights from the 2023 Class 5A State Championship game
