2024 Look Ahead: Three-peat for Artesia?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even after directing Artesia to three appearances in the Class 5A state championship game – and back-to-back state titles - in his first three years as Artesia head coach, Jeremy Maupin isn't afraid to shake things up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs have enjoyed enormous success over the past two decades with quarterbacks who were primarily pocket passers, two-time state champion (2022-23) [player_tooltip player_id='590681' first='Nye' last='Estrada'] being just the latest example.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But the upcoming season will see a shift in that philosophy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119239' first='Izac' last='Cazares']</strong> has been anointed as the Bulldogs next starting quarterback. What makes the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Cazares different from his predecessors is he's a dual threat QB, the first for Artesia in about two decades.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season Cazares served as &nbsp;Estrada's backup while also seeing action at running back (31 carries for 252 yards) and receiver (35 receptions for 601 yards and 5 TD), accounting for 12 TD, a remarkable display of his versatility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maupin believes Cazares' multi-faceted skills will be on full display as Artesia's top signal caller in 2024. To get ready, the Artesia coaching staff has attended coaching clinics and spoken with numerous coaches experienced with dual threat QB systems. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We've already started talking about how (a dual threat QB) changes our offense,” Maupin told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “Izac is excited for the opportunity. I have talked with him about the responsibility of playing quarterback here, the tradition and what that means. Izac is bulking up. He's one of our strongest guys. He's running track. He's a competitor. He wants to compete.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cazares has been one of about 150 Artesia players in grades 9-12 participating in the off-season weight-lifting program, Maupin said. The backup QBs are slated to be rising juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672571' first='Derrick' last='Warren']</strong> and <strong>Cael Houghtaling</strong>, the latest in a long line of Houghtalings to play quarterback for the Bulldogs dating back to the early 1990s.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising senior running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1118283' first='Frankie' last='Galindo']</strong> returns after leading Artesia in rushing with about 1,200 yards and 25+ TD in 2023. Galindo was a touchdown machine last season for the Bulldogs after starting the year at wide receiver. Speedy rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1139144' first='Bryce' last='Parra']</strong> (member of Artesia's 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams) will be the No. 2 RB.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I'm looking for Bryce to really push Frankie from behind for some reps,” Maupin said. “Both of those guys are phenomenal young men.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leading receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1118257' first='Ethan' last='Conn']</strong>, who played slot, is back after amassing about 60 receptions for over 900 yards in 2023. Rising seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1680164' first='Diego' last='Lopez']</strong>, <strong>Porter Hardman</strong> and <strong>Caleb Murray</strong> gained valuable experience last season and look for larger roles in 2024. Rising &nbsp;junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1750200' first='Jack' last='Byers']</strong>, listed at 6-foot-3, is also a basketball and baseball standout. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1600893' first='Trent' last='Egeland']</strong> plays basketball and runs track as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Our sophomore class this year has a lot of really good athletes and they will really push the seniors for playing time next season,” Maupin said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heavy losses on the offensive line means an almost entirely different group in 2024 for Artesia. [player_tooltip player_id='815946' first='Ricky' last='Armendariz'] signed with Eastern New Mexico. Rising senior right guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1594158' first='Devyn' last='Velasquez']</strong> has the most experience. <strong>Caleb Martin</strong> is healthy again after missing most of the 2023 season. <strong>Myka Aguirre</strong> will likely return to the O-Line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We have good sized kids that will compete for those jobs,” Maupin said. “We moved some defensive linemen over there to compete. The offensive line will be a big focal point over the next few months as we get that group ready to go.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, intriguing 2025 prospect <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1118370' first='Kaden' last='Grantham']</strong>, described as Artesia's “returning anchor,” is back at defensive end after a solid junior campaign in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1258069' first='Rafael' last='Orozco']</strong> is another returning standout along the defensive front<strong>. [player_tooltip player_id='1258077' first='Grant' last='Johnson']</strong> returns at inside linebacker but has the speed to play on the outside as well, or even at defensive end. He has next level talent. Johnson replaces the graduating [player_tooltip player_id='590673' first='Diego' last='Wesson'] as arguably Artesia's top linebacker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1258081' first='Ayden' last='Huffman']</strong> returns after starting every game at inside LB for Artesia last season. <strong>Axel Hartley</strong> is being counted on to step ap at LB. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1258085' first='Haden' last='Harcrow']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1258083' first='Brody' last='McDonald']</strong> excelled in the secondary in 2023 and both are back at safety. <strong>Jaden Hutson</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266504' first='Edel' last='Villa']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266497' first='Tootie' last='McNeil']</strong> are very capable cornerbacks looking to take over at that position. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 ARTESIA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 23 CARLSBAD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 30 at Hobbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 7 at Centennial (Sat., 1 p.m.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 13 DEMING*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 20 GADSDEN*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 27 at Lovington*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 4 SANTA TERESA*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 11 Bye</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 18 at Roswell*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 25 GODDARD*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nov. 2 at Mayfield (Sat., Noon)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/artesiafootball/status/1728591758391672876?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/artesiafootball/status/1728591758391672876?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1728549981504852164?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1728549981504852164?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Frankie1726/status/1708244228688785483?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Frankie1726/status/1708244228688785483?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/kadengrantham25/status/1768436520686649723?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/kadengrantham25/status/1768436520686649723?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->