Mike Smith
Artesia Daily Press

Playing three teams in New Mexico’s largest high school football division was a quick lesson in growing up for the Artesia Bulldogs, according to head coach Jeremy Maupin.

Artesia (1-2) starts District 5-2A action against the Deming Wildcats at 7 p.m. Friday at the Bulldog Bowl.

The Bulldogs faced three 6A schools in non-district play and Maupin admits competition from Carlsbad, Hobbs and Las Cruces Centennial was tough.

“We like that. We played some good teams to assess where we are and where we want to go,” he said.

The Bulldogs started the season at home Aug. 23 with a 44-7 victory over Carlsbad.

The following week Artesia lost 44-40 at Hobbs and last week Las Cruces Centennial downed the Bulldogs 70-39.

Maupin said the losses to the larger teams allowed the Bulldogs to adjust game plans for Friday’s league opener.

“Our district is good, so we do not get any time off. We learn from the past and move forward toward the future,” he said.

Scouting report on Deming

The Wildcats are 3-0 this season after defeating Alamogordo 35-21, Las Cruces Organ Mountain 28-21, and Silver High School 45-6.

Deming is winless against Artesia during the past three seasons.

The Bulldogs downed the Wildcats last year, 54-26. In 2022, Artesia defeated the Wildcats 55-7 during the regular season. The teams met again in the playoffs with the Bulldogs taking a 49-12 victory.

In 2021, Artesia beat Deming 42-34 during the regular season.

“Deming is a good football team,” Maupin said. (The Wildcats are) undefeated and playing good football.”

For the Bulldogs to earn their second win of the season and the first in league play, the defense will have to control senior quarterback Ryan Alfaro.

“(The) offense rolls through him, and he is a good player. They are a running team who can throw,” Maupin said.

Alfaro, a 5-foot-11 senior, averages 153 rushing yards per game.

Maupin said the Wildcats have not changed defensively over the last few seasons.

“However, they always have some new wrinkles against us. They fly to the football and can make some big plays,” he said.

Izac Cazares settling in at quarterback

Through the first three games of the season, Artesia’s senior signal caller has completed 68 passes in 116 attempts for 1,039 yards and 12 touchdowns.

In last week’s loss to Centennial, he threw for 479 yards.

Last season, Cazares played multiple positions on offense, including quarterback. He played sparingly behind former quarterback Nye Estrada, who threw for 2,417 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Estrada was a guiding force for the Bulldogs last season and in 2022, winning back-to-back 5A state titles.

Maupin said Cazares has improved each week during the season.

“The game means a lot to him, and you cannot coach that,” he said. “He brings a big and different dynamic to our offense that we have not had in a long time.”

Maupin’s concluding thoughts

Friday’s game could be a test for the Bulldogs with the next seven games counting for a playoff berth as Artesia plays for a third straight 5A title.

“We believe and I would say that Deming believes they are a 5A championship caliber team,” Maupin said.

“We will get their best and we need to make sure we give them ours. We need to play mistake free and play within ourselves to win.”

Mike Smith may be reached by phone at 575-308-8734 and can be followed on X @MSmithartesianm.