PICTURED: Trent Egeland drags a trio of Gadsden defenders to the goal line for an eight-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)
They say lightning never strikes the same place twice, but someone forgot to notify Anthony, N.M., on Friday.
The District 2-AAAAA showdown between Class 5A top-ranked Artesia and undefeated No. 3 Gadsden, billed by many in the state as the game of the week, came to an unfortunately abbreviated end when an electrical storm settled into the area and showed no signs of moving on. The initial 30-minute lightning delay came just after the second-half kickoff, sending the teams back to their locker rooms and the fans to their vehicles. Just under an hour later, it was determined by officials that delays would only be continuing indefinitely, and the decision was made to end the contest at the half, with Artesia subsequently winning by a final of 35-7.
It was a disappointing turn of events for both squads, but the Bulldogs had undoubtedly been dominating to that point. Capping all but one of their five first-half drives with touchdowns, Artesia was having an equally efficient night on defense, forcing two Panther turnovers, a punt, and a turnover on downs in the opening quarters while notching their fourth defensive touchdown of the season.
The boys in orange, who've shown few signs of rust off the bus this year, came out firing Friday, as senior running back Bryce Parra took the game's first handoff and cut to the Gadsden sideline before speeding 83 yards untouched into the end zone. That gave Artesia a 7-0 head start just 18 seconds into the bout, and there was no letting up from there.
Introducing all three of their backs -- senior Juan Rios, averaging more than 100 yards per game thus far in 2025; sophomore Deion Torres, who's averaging 70; and junior Armando Ramirez -- in their opening series, the Panthers were able to move from their own 20 to midfield. But on a pass attempt to the Artesia 31, they were introduced in turn to Bulldog senior safety Charlie Campbell, who came out of nowhere to show off his basketball hops, picking an Ethan Morales pass to end the possession.
PICTURED: Charlie Campbell skies to pick off an Ethan Morales pass to end the Panthers' first drive.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)
The 'Dogs weren't able to convert the turnover into points, however, as Gadsden DB Troy Vargas returned the favor five plays later with an interception at the Panther one-yard line. A pair of successful completions from Morales to Ramirez saw Gadsden breach the Bulldog red zone, but the Orange Crush stiffened from there, forcing a turnover on downs at the Artesia eight with help from a bat-down of a Morales pass by Ivan Chavez on third and four.
Parra would go over 100 yards on the night on just his third carry of the game to move the ball to the 37, and following a 29-yard run by Cael Houghtaling, Cristian Pando would advance the Bulldogs to the Panther 18, from which senior quarterback Derrick Warren found Jett Fuentes cutting back on his defender for a wide-open touchdown that made it 14-0 with 1:50 to go in the first.
The Crush would get a pick-six lick in as the second quarter began when -- following a sack of Morales by Marco Soto -- Campbell tipped the QB's ensuing pass attempt into the air, where it was snatched by senior corner Tootie McNeil at the Artesia 20. McNeil proceeded to rumble 80 yards to the house to expand the Bulldogs' lead to 21-0 at the 9:51 mark.
PICTURED: Tootie McNeil holds the ball aloft as he caps off a huge 80-yard pick six.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)
Gadsden was able to get on the board on its penultimate possession of the half amidst a 14-play, 95-yard march. The Panthers converted thrice on third down in the drive, once with help from a roughing the passer flag. The final conversion came in the form of a two-yard plunge over the goal line by Rios, who prevented the shutout at 4:03 to go in the second.
Artesia wasted no time responding, however, on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Warren to Trent Egeland, who fought his way back inside with a trio of defenders in tow and extended the ball over the goal line to make it 28-7. And following a Panther three-and-out, the 'Dogs had just enough time for one more, as Warren found Egeland again, this time from the 17, to round out the final with 51 seconds to go in the half, 35-7.
The Bulldogs finished with 319 yards of offense on the shortened game to Gadsden's 256. Parra rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown on five carries, Warren was eight of 11 for 106 passing yards and three TDs, and Egeland caught four of those passes for 52 yards and two scores. Corbyn Dominguez was 5-5 on PAT. Rios went 17-111 rushing for the Panthers, and Morales finished four of 11 for 43 yards and two picks.
With the victory, the 'Dogs improved to 4-1 on the season, 2-0 in district play, as they prepare to enter Homecoming Week 2025. They'll take on longtime rival Lovington in the Homecoming Game at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, at Bulldog Bowl, and tickets can be purchased in advance online via Artesia's GoFan site. Tickets will also be available for purchase from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Friday in the AHS Athletic Office at Bulldog Pit or at the gate. Fans should note that all general-admission tickets are $5 each, and cash sales will only be conducted at the gate until halftime, at which point digital tickets must be purchased.
https://gofan.co/event/3857598?schoolId=NM8091
The Wildcats currently stand at 2-3 on the season, 1-1 in District 2-AAAAA. Artesia and Lovington have two in-common opponents to this point: Carlsbad, whom the Bulldogs defeated 48-24 to start the season and to whom the 'Cats fell 31-28 Sept. 5; and Hobbs, against whom the 'Dogs took a shootout Aug. 29, 51-41, and to whom Lovington lost in its season opener, 41-13. The Wildcats were also edged by Roswell High in their district opener Sept. 12 in Roswell, 18-13, and defeated Portales 49-24 on Aug. 29 and Goddard Friday for their first D2 win, 44-26 in Lovington. The 'Cats were ranked fifth in 5A in the most recent NMOTSC coaches' poll and are third behind Artesia and Roswell on MaxPreps.
For information on all things Homecoming 2025, visit this link.
https://www.bulldogs.org/article/2436375
PICTURED: Bryce Parra prepares to step into the end zone following an 83-yard touchdown run to start the game.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)
PICTURED: Jett Fuentes delivers an 18-yard touchdown reception on a pass from Derrick Warren.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)
PICTURED: Trent Egeland leaps to bring in a 17-yard touchdown pass from Derrick Warren.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)
STAT BOX
SCORING SUMMARY
FIRST QUARTER
Artesia- Bryce Parra 83-run (Corbyn Dominguez kick good), 11:42
Artesia- Jett Fuentes 18-pass from Derrick Warren (Dominguez kick good), 1:50
SECOND QUARTER
Artesia- Tootie McNeil 80-interception return (Dominguez kick good), 9:51
Gadsden- Juan Rios 2-run (Santi Herrera kick good), 4:03
Artesia- Trent Egeland 8-pass from Warren (Dominguez kick good), 2:36
Artesia- Egeland 17-pass from Warren (Dominguez kick good), :51
THIRD QUARTER
Cancelled
FOURTH QUARTER
Cancelled
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
Artesia- Parra 5-125; Cael Houghtaling 1-29; Fuentes 1-22; Cristian Pando 2-20; Warren 1-11; Sawyer Whitehead 1-6
Gadsden- Rios 17-111; Deion Torres 8-54; Armando Ramirez 4-34; Ethan Morales 3-14
PASSING
Artesia- Warren 8-11-106-3-1
Gadsden- Morales 4-11-43-0-2
RECEIVING
Artesia- Egeland 4-52; Parra 1-21; Fuentes 1-18; Pando 1-8; Jack Byers 1-7
Gadsden- Ramirez 2-38; Torres 1-4; Ayden Cardenas 1-1
TEAM STATISTICS
FIRST DOWNS
Artesia 10; Gadsden 12
RUSHING YARDS
Artesia 11-213; Gadsden 32-213
PASSING YARDS
Artesia 106; Gadsden 43
TOTAL YARDS
Artesia 319; Gadsden 256
PENALTIES
Artesia 1-15; Gadsden 4-35
TURNOVERS
Artesia 1; Gadsden 2