The Roswell Coyotes football team will travel to the Bulldog Bowl at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, to face Artesia in a District 2-5A matchup between two teams undefeated in district play.
Rowell (6-1, 4-0 District 2-5A) and Artesia (4-3, 4-0) met in the state championship in each of the past three seasons, with the Coyotes winning the 2024 title. Artesia won last season’s championship matchup 25-24 at home to claim the program’s 33rd state title.
Roswell appeared poised to win last year’s championship until the final 24 seconds, when Bulldogs quarterback Derrick Warren threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jack Byers to secure the victory.
Roswell head coach Jeff Lynn said his team is focused on this season rather than seeking revenge.
“We’re both different groups, but we know what this game represents,” Lynn said. “Everyone knows that Artesia and Roswell are pretty good rivals. I expect a good game.”
Both teams enter Friday’s matchup on winning streaks. After its lone loss, a 50-37 defeat against Randall in Amarillo, Texas, Roswell won five consecutive games. The Coyotes scored at least 39 points in each victory and outscored their opponents 242-87 during the streak. Artesia won four straight games after opening the season 0-3. The Bulldogs scored at least 51 points in each victory and outscored their opponents 215-33.
Lynn said limiting the big plays will be critical against Artesia’s offense.
“We can’t give them a cheap score defensively or on special teams,” Lynn said. “I feel like if we’re even or ahead of them in the big plays, we have a really good chance to win. If they have a bunch of big plays, we’re probably in trouble.”
Roswell will rely on quarterback Andruw Fuentez to lead its offesne. Through seven games, Fuentez completed 70.9% of his passes for 1,597 yards and 23 touchdowns with two interceptions. Wide receiver Danny Castro is one of Fuentez’s top targets, recording 29 receptions for 594 yards and nine touchdowns.
“Andruw knows how to make the right play” Lynn said. “He also has great receivers like Danny to work with.”
Artesia is also productive in the passing game. Quarterback Lucas Atkins completed 67.7% of his passes for 1,475 yards and 20 touchdowns with one interception through seven games. His primary connection, wide receiver Kai Greathouse, recorded 22 catches for 358 yards and five touchdowns.
Lynn praised Atkins’ performance and his connection with Greathouse, saying Roswell must contain both players to have a chance to win.
“Atkins has done a good job this year,” Lynn said. “Quarterback is probably one the toughest positions in New Mexico high school sports to play. He also works well with Greathouse. We’ll need to stop them to win.”
With both teams 4-0 in district play, Friday’s winner will gain an advantage in the race for the District 2-5A championship and improve its position for postseason seeding.
Marshall Mecham can be reached at (915) 232-1793 or on X @mecham_marshall. Mecham serves with the New Mexico Local News Fellowship, which places emerging journalists in newsrooms across the state. Learn more at www.newmexicolocalnewsfellowships.org.
