Artesia comes from way back to stun Roswell in 5A championship game; 33rd title for Bulldogs

Nov. 29—The Artesia Bulldogs added another page to their history book on Saturday afternoon. And it wasn't limited to their 33rd state championship.

Class 5A's top-seeded prep football team trailed the entire way against rival Roswell in the Class 5A final at Bulldog Bowl, but scored two touchdowns in the final 3:08, including a TD with 24 seconds to go, and stunned the second-seeded Coyotes with a come-from-behind 25-24 victory at Bulldog Bowl.

Jack Byers caught a 9-yard touchdown pass with 24 seconds to go that tied the game, and Corbyn Dominguez added the go-ahead PAT for Artesia (12-1).

"It was special," Bulldogs coach Jeremy Maupin said two hours after the game ended. "I still can't believe we won that game."

As for the history part, it arrives in two waves.

First is that aforementioned 33rd state title, which extended the school's state record. And this one allowed Artesia to climb into second place solo, all-time, on the nation's championship list. Washington High in Sioux Falls, South Dakota has 42.

But for all those titles the Bulldogs have won, never has Artesia — not in the modern, expanded bracket era, which began in 1973, and certainly not before Saturday — won a championship game by a single point.

Artesia's first title was a one-point victory over Highland in 1957, but there were no brackets then. Those were the only teams in that playoff.

The Bulldogs had to work hard for this one.

No. 2 seed Roswell (9-4) had the game's first 14 points, and it wasn't until the end of the first half, on a long field goal by Dominguez, that Artesia even got on the board.

Roswell extended to a 21-3 lead early in the third quarter.

Artesia finally reached the end zone midway through the third quarter, on an 11-yard scoring run by standout running back Bryce Parra. The Bulldogs also went for 2 and made it to trail 21-11.

Early in the fourth quarter, Roswell kicked a field goal for a 24-11 lead.

It was still a 13-point lead for the Coyotes with under five minutes to go. Artesia had the ball, went for it on fourth down, and was stopped.

"Honestly," said Byers, "when it was 21-3, I thought we lost."

There were, Maupin said, fans leaving after that play.

But moments later, Artesia blocked a Roswell field goal attempt, with senior Charlie Campbell racing in from the outside to block it for the Bulldogs.

Junior Cristian Pando, in the game because of an injury to Parra, who was later taken to a local hospital with a dislocated shoulder, scored from the 8 with 3:08 to go and the lead was 24-18 for Roswell.

Artesia had no more timeouts, so it was compelled to onside kick. The Bulldogs' Edel Villa and Campbell combined to recover; Marco Soto hit a Roswell player once the onside kick hit him in the chest, keeping the ball alive.

"A lot of stuff had to go our way," Byers said. "But it went our way."

Artesia converted no fewer than three fourth downs on the game-winning drive. From the 5, Warren lofted a pass to Byers in the end zone.

"It was pretty crazy," said Byers, who is a University of Arizona baseball signee. "I kind of don't remember it. I was just so excited for sure that I was able to do that for my team."

He added, "It was just amazing. 10 out of 10. Best football game I've ever been a part of in my life."

Artesia had beaten Roswell 42-28 in the regular season, largely because the Bulldogs raced out to a quick 21-0 lead. Artesia had to do the chasing in the rematch.

"Our guys just never gave up," Maupin said.