Artesia holds off Roswell Coyotes to win 32nd state football title in school history
Mike Smith
Juan Diego Duran caught three touchdown passes at critical times as the Artesia Bulldogs held off the Roswell Coyotes to win the 2023 5A state football title 35-21 at Bulldog Bowl.
Ethan Conn caught two touchdown passes for the Bulldogs in the victory.
Artesia (12-1) avenged a 29-8 loss Oct. 13 in Roswell (12-1) and handed the Coyotes (12-1) its first loss of the season after claiming the 32nd state title in school history.
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District rivals meet again
The Coyotes won the District 5-4A regular season title and earned the No. 1 seed in the 5A playoffs. Artesia finished second during league play and was the No. 2 seed as it was standing room only at the Bulldog Bowl Saturday afternoon.
The game had the classic makings of a typical Artesia-Roswell football game as Conn scored his first touchdown of the contest early in the opening period on a 35-yard strike from quarterback Nye Estrada. Artesia could not convert the extra point kick as the Bulldogs led 6-0.
The Coyotes scored their first touchdown after the defense blocked a Bulldog punt. Roswell quarterback Manny Fuentez scored on a 4-yard run as the Coyotes went ahead after converting the extra point kick.
Roswell's lead short-lived
Conn scored his second touchdown on Artesia’s first drive of the second quarter on a 45-yard pass from Estrada. The Bulldogs made the 2-point conversion and regained the lead 14-7.
The Bulldogs capitalized late in the second period after the Coyotes missed a 29-yard field goal attempt on its opening drive of the quarter.
The Bulldog offense seized the moment late in the first half as Diego Duran scored his first touchdown on a 91-yard strike from Estrada. The extra point was good as the Bulldogs led 21-7.
More:Artesia remains undefeated, shuts out Belen on the road Friday
Roswell comes close in the third period
The Coyotes narrowed the lead in the opening minutes on the first drive in the third quarter as running back Bryce Sanchez scored on a 3-yard run at the midpoint of the period.
The extra point kick was good as the Bulldogs led 21-14.
Artesia picked up some key points nearly five minutes later as Diego Duran scored his second touchdown on a 25-yard strike from Estrada as the Bulldogs converted the extra point kick.
The Coyotes fumbled on its second drive of the third quarter and Estrada turned the football over on an interception by Roswell defender Xai Carrasco. Roswell converted the extra point pick with 1:49 left in the period as the lead narrowed 28-21 Artesia.
Bulldogs take control in the final period
Artesia kept the upper hand on the Coyotes scoring on a five-play, 83-yard drive with Diego Duran receiving a 29-yard pass early in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs converted the extra point kick and won the game 35-21.
Roswell’s offense was not able to capitalize in the closing stages of the final period.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on X, formerly known as Twitter.