2025 Team Preview: Artesia Bulldogs

OVERVIEW   After capturing back-to-back Class 5A titles in 2022 and 2023, Artesia fell short of a three-peat in 2024 when they lost to Roswell at the Wool Bowl on Thanksgiving Weekend. The Bulldogs have appeared in four straight 5A championship games, eight of 10 overall since the NMAA added Class 6A in 2014. But that's the yearly (and never changing) expectation at Artesia, arguably the top Friday Night Lights town in the state, even as players and coaches come and go.   “We've put ourselves in a position where we feel like every year we can compete for a state championship,” Artesia head coach Jeremy Maupin told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “We have a group of seniors that got a lot of experience as juniors last season. They've had a good off-season. Many of them play multiple sports such as basketball and baseball.”   It was a fantastic 2024-25 school year for Artesia from an athletics perspective. In addition to the football team reaching the 5A title game, the Bulldog boys basketball and baseball teams won Class 4A state championships. Many of the players on that title-winning teams also play football.   Maupin believes the positive vibes from basketball and baseball will carry over into football season, especially with the incoming group of talented seniors who have experienced a lot of winning across multiple sports during their distinguished careers at Artesia.   “This group is solid,” Maupin said. “The basketball team had zero seniors. All but one player also plays football for us. They're all back. Baseball, their entire team except for two guys also plays football. I think that played a lot into it. We're excited to have all those guys back.”                 OFFENSE   3 Players To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1672571' first='Derrick' last='Warren'] (QB), [player_tooltip player_id='1139144' first='Bryce' last='Parra'] (RB), [player_tooltip player_id='1600893' first='Trent' last='Egeland'] (WR).   Rising senior QB [player_tooltip player_id='1672571' first='Derrick' last='Warren'] gets his opportunity to lead the Artesia offense as the presumptive starter for the Bulldogs. He was the backup to elite dual threat QB Izac Cazares in 2024, but saw significant action in the state championship game when Cazares was sidelined.   But Warren will face competition from another rising senior, Cael Houghtaling, who missed most of last season with injuries. If Houghtaling doesn't win the QB job, he'll likely play WR. Rising junior Lucas Atkins could be involved in the battle as well.   “Both Derrick and Cael are very good athletes,” Maupin said. “They have different strengths. I would say Derrick is the frontrunner right now, but they'll compete this summer. Derrick can sling it down the field, but he can run too. He can do both.”     At running back, TD machine Frankie Galindo (52 TD in 2023-24) has graduated. Speedster [player_tooltip player_id='1139144' first='Bryce' last='Parra'] will likely ascend to the No. 1 RB role. Parra finished fifth in Class 4A in the 100 meters, second in the 200 meters, helped Artesia win the 4x200 relay title and won the state individual title in the long jump at last month's state track and field championships.   “Bryce has had a really good offseason,” Maupin said. “He's a great athlete. He can scoot. He played in our two-back set when we went to that late in the year. He was a big part of that. Lot of speed. And he catches the ball well. I think he's going to have a huge year as a senior. We have a couple of younger guys that could spell him occasionally, but mostly it's going to be Parra at running back.”                   Former Artesia QB Taylor Null has been added to the staff as wide receivers coach. Rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1600893' first='Trent' last='Egeland'] (26 receptions for 453 yards, 9 TD in 2024) is the top returning receiver. He'll be joined by rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1750200' first='Jack' last='Byers'] on the outside. Both stand about 6-foot-3, giving the Bulldogs plenty of height in the passing game, and extremely athletic. Both played on Artesia's championship basketball team, while Byers was a key contributor to the baseball team. In fact, Byers plays four sports for Artesia.   “Both Egeland and Byers are big, strong targets,” Maupin said. “They played a lot for us last year. Both had very good years on the outside.”   The slot receivers will be rising seniors Jett Fuentes and Sawyer Whitehead. Both are excellent route runners.   Artesia returns just one starter along the offensive line: 6-foot-4 rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1750240' first='Steven' last='Williams']. He'll move to left tackle and serve as the anchor. Rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1750263' first='James' last='Shaw'] has opened eyes with his work in the off-season. Rising junior Ethan Shannon could end up as the starting center.      DEFENSE   3 Players To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1599561' first='Chris' last='Aguilar'] (DL), [player_tooltip player_id='1672806' first='Marco' last='Soto Jr.'] (LB), [player_tooltip player_id='1266497' first='Tootie' last='McNeil'] (DB).   Artesia will have a new defensive coordinator in 2025. Maupin promoted Max Rodriguez, who has been a part of the staff for a couple of years. Rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1599561' first='Chris' last='Aguilar'] (36 tackles in 2024) anchors the D-Line at defensive tackle and nose guard. Rising senior Sergio Robles joins him in the D-Line interior. Both defensive end spots are up for grabs. Rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1826031' first='Derek' last='Lopez'] is an up-and-comer. He's fast and strong, and could make an impact this season.   The Soto twins – [player_tooltip player_id='1672806' first='Marco' last='Soto Jr.'] and Miguel Soto – headline the LB corps. Both had 64 tackles in 2024 and are Artesia top returning tacklers. At one times or another, they've seen action at all three levels, but both should settle in at LB this fall. Marco Jr. will likely play ILB along with rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1750311' first='Daelon' last='Pacheco'], who started some games last season. Miguel Soro will play OLB.   The secondary returns rising seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1266497' first='Tootie' last='McNeil'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1266504' first='Edel' last='Villa']. Both were offered by New Mexico Highlands following a camp at Artesia High School Monday night. McNeil will play CB while Villa could occasionally drop down and line up at OLB. Basketball standout Charlie Campbell is also back to strengthen the secondary.         2025 Artesia Football Schedule:   Aug. 22 at Carlsbad         Aug. 29 HOBBS       Sept. 5 CENTENNIAL        Sept. 12 at Deming*        Sept. 19 at Gadsden*        Sept. 26 LOVINGTON*        Oct. 3 SANTA TERESA*        Oct. 10 Bye        Oct. 17 at Roswell*       Oct. 24 GODDARD*         Oct. 31 MAYFIELD*       * District 5A-2 Game   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Congratulations to our <a href="https://twitter.com/tootiemcneil2?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tootiemcneil2</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/Edelvilla_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Edelvilla_</a> for getting their first college offers from New Mexico Highlands University, still more to come from these two! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LA2VE6AS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LA2VE6AS</a> <a href="https://t.co/UIucAoy3P2">pic.twitter.com/UIucAoy3P2</a>— Artesia Football (@ArtesiaF32) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArtesiaF32/status/1932862129813795046?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2025</a></blockquote>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Junior Season Highlights <a href="https://twitter.com/Hudl?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Hudl</a> <a href="https://t.co/kOkR1O0fT1">https://t.co/kOkR1O0fT1</a> 2 games missed due to injury 51 tackles ( 34 solo 17 assist) 3 tfls 1 ff 4 ints 1 def td— [player_tooltip player_id='1266504' first='Edel' last='Villa'] (@Edelvilla_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Edelvilla_/status/1908271473825112213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2025</a></blockquote>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/Hudl?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Hudl</a>⁩ - <a href="https://t.co/iJ5uploUJa">https://t.co/iJ5uploUJa</a> Junior full season highlights 46 tackles (24 solo 22 assist) 3 Interceptions 1 defensive td— [player_tooltip player_id='1266497' first='Tootie' last='McNeil'] (@tootiemcneil2) <a href="https://twitter.com/tootiemcneil2/status/1908302564397113772?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2025</a></blockquote>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The 2025 Bulldog Football Schedule! <a href="https://t.co/M5xoiJl6f9">pic.twitter.com/M5xoiJl6f9</a>— BulldogFootball 🏈🏆x32 (@artesiafootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/artesiafootball/status/1906846089530978368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2025</a></blockquote>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Congratulations to [player_tooltip player_id='1139144' first='Bryce' last='Parra'] from Artesia HS, winner of the Boys 4A Long Jump at the 2025 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico NMAA State Track and Field Championships. <a href="https://twitter.com/BCBSNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bcbsnm</a> <a href="https://t.co/jOoHrsLbE8">pic.twitter.com/jOoHrsLbE8</a>— NMAA (@_NMAA) <a href="https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1923437041859101129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2025</a></blockquote>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Touchdown Trent 3X <a href="https://twitter.com/trent_egeland?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@trent_egeland</a> <a href="https://t.co/Xa6zcpvhgw">pic.twitter.com/Xa6zcpvhgw</a>— BulldogFootball 🏈🏆x32 (@artesiafootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/artesiafootball/status/1837558607770276348?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2024</a></blockquote>

OVERVIEW