PREVIEW: Storied Artesia takes on New Southern Power in Centennial
By: Kyle Henderson of NMPreps.com
Team Comparions
Artesia Head Coach: Cooper Henderson
Artesia’s Record: 11-1
Centennial Head Coach: Aaron Ocampo
Centennial’s Record: 12-0
Game Preview
Artesia Trying To Win 29th State Championship
Artesia playing in the State Championship Game is almost a given each season. Their program, tops in the State of New Mexico is trying to win their 29th State Championship all-time and playing in their 33rd State Championship in School History.
Head Coach Cooper Henderson who has been coaching at Artesia for 27 seasons has won 14 State Championships and the Bulldogs head into Saturday’s game with a 23-2 record over the last two seasons including a State Championship last year defeating Belen in the finals 49-21.
Their offense is headline by Senior Quarterback and NMPreps.com Mr. Football Candidate Justin Houghtaling who has thrown for close to 3,000-yards and 30 touchdowns this year, this year Artesia has scored 465 points on offense which equates to a 38.8 points per game average.
Their defense this year might just be the reason they are playing this weekend and for those long time Bulldog Fans, they have posted time and time again that this year’s Artesia Defense ranks among the best they’ve seen. Senior Defensive Back Carlos Carrasco has hauled in 9 interceptions and Junior Defensive Linemen Codey Scott has 16 quarterback sacks.
A new southern power arises in Las Cruces
Centennial High School opened it’s doors in Las Cruces, New Mexico in 2012, that year the Hawks went 5-5 having a shootout win that season over Hatch Valley and Chaparral. In 2013 they they went 9-3 with a loss to St. Michael’s and a 1 point win over Ruidoso. In 2014 they went 11-2 beating Onate by 32 points, beating Las Cruces by 2 points, and reaching the state semifinals with a 31-24 loss to Belen.
This season, they are 12-0 with wins again over Onate, Las Cruces, and in the playoffs they beat Goddard 53-18 and last week beat Moriarty 42-0, clearly they have grown up in a hurry. This season the Hawks are outscoring the comp by an average score of 48-13 and have held 6 opponents to a touchdown or less.
Junior Quarterback Dante Lopez has thrown for 1,910-yards with 32 touchdowns, Sophomore Joaquin Gutierrez has rushed for 935-yards and 15 touchdowns, and on defense Jake Boykin leads the team in tackles with 100, Jerry Gurrola leads the team with 9.5 sacks.
Players To Watch
Centennial Hawks
Dante Lopez - Centennial - Quarterback - - Class of 2017 - Thrown for 1,910-yards and 32 touchdowns
Joaquin Gutierrez - Centennial - Class of 2018 - Running Back - Ran for 936-yards and 15 touchdowns
Keath Jasso - Centennial - Class of 2016 -Running Back - Ran for 829-yards and 10 touchdowns
Junior Pena - Centennial - Receiver - Class of 2017 - Caught for 810-yards and 13 touchdowns, 1 punt return for TD, 1 KR for touchdown
Bryce ReWalt - Centennial - Receiver - Class of 2017 - Caught for 809-yards and 14 touchdowns
Chase Austin - Centennial - Tight End - Class of 2016 - Caught for 3 touchdowns
Jake Boykin - Centennial - Linebacker - Class of 2016 - 100 tackles on the year
Jerry Gurrola - Centennial - Defensive Linemen - Class of 2016 - 78 tackles with 9.5 sacks
Edgar Hernandez - Centennial - Defensive Linemen - Class of 2016 - 39 tackles
Marc Sotelo - Centennial - Defensive Back - Class of 2016 - 2 interceptions
Cruz Chavez - Centennial - Defensive Back - Class of 2017 - 2 interceptions
George Nino - Centennial - Offensive Linemen - Class of 2016 - 300 pound 4 year starter
Cameron Burkley - Centennial - Offensive Linemen - Class of 2016 - 275 pound 4 year starter
Artesia Bulldogs
Isaiah Weideman - Artesia - Running Back - Class of 2017 - Scored 11 touchdowns this year
Justin Houghtaling - Artesia - Quarterback - Class of 2016 - Threw for 2,800-yards and 30 touchdowns
Ethan Duff - Artesia - Receiver - Class of 2017 - Caught for 900-yards and 12 touchdowns
Daniel Leon - Artesia - Receiver - Class of 2016 - Caught for 600-yards and 4 touchdowns
Clay Donaghe - Artesia - Receiver - Class of 2016 - Caught for 5 touchdowns
Chaz Matthews - Artesia - Receiver - Class of 2016 - Caught for 3 touchdowns
Caleb Brewer - Artesia - Linebacker - Class of 2016 - 74 tackles
Carlos Carrasco - Artesia - Defensive Back - Class of 2016 - 108 tackles with 9 interceptions
Jacob Enriquez - Artesia - Linebacker - Class of 2016 - 150 tackles
Codey Scott - Artesia - Defensive linemen - Class of 2017 - 90 tackles and 16 sacks
Miguel Martinez - Artesia - Linebacker - Class of 2017 - 109 tackles
Jhrayss Granger - Artesia - Defensive Linemen - Class of 2017 - 264 pounds
By: Kyle Henderson of NMPreps.com
Team Comparions
Artesia Head Coach: Cooper Henderson
Artesia’s Record: 11-1
Centennial Head Coach: Aaron Ocampo
Centennial’s Record: 12-0
Game Preview
Artesia Trying To Win 29th State Championship
Artesia playing in the State Championship Game is almost a given each season. Their program, tops in the State of New Mexico is trying to win their 29th State Championship all-time and playing in their 33rd State Championship in School History.
Head Coach Cooper Henderson who has been coaching at Artesia for 27 seasons has won 14 State Championships and the Bulldogs head into Saturday’s game with a 23-2 record over the last two seasons including a State Championship last year defeating Belen in the finals 49-21.
Their offense is headline by Senior Quarterback and NMPreps.com Mr. Football Candidate Justin Houghtaling who has thrown for close to 3,000-yards and 30 touchdowns this year, this year Artesia has scored 465 points on offense which equates to a 38.8 points per game average.
Their defense this year might just be the reason they are playing this weekend and for those long time Bulldog Fans, they have posted time and time again that this year’s Artesia Defense ranks among the best they’ve seen. Senior Defensive Back Carlos Carrasco has hauled in 9 interceptions and Junior Defensive Linemen Codey Scott has 16 quarterback sacks.
A new southern power arises in Las Cruces
Centennial High School opened it’s doors in Las Cruces, New Mexico in 2012, that year the Hawks went 5-5 having a shootout win that season over Hatch Valley and Chaparral. In 2013 they they went 9-3 with a loss to St. Michael’s and a 1 point win over Ruidoso. In 2014 they went 11-2 beating Onate by 32 points, beating Las Cruces by 2 points, and reaching the state semifinals with a 31-24 loss to Belen.
This season, they are 12-0 with wins again over Onate, Las Cruces, and in the playoffs they beat Goddard 53-18 and last week beat Moriarty 42-0, clearly they have grown up in a hurry. This season the Hawks are outscoring the comp by an average score of 48-13 and have held 6 opponents to a touchdown or less.
Junior Quarterback Dante Lopez has thrown for 1,910-yards with 32 touchdowns, Sophomore Joaquin Gutierrez has rushed for 935-yards and 15 touchdowns, and on defense Jake Boykin leads the team in tackles with 100, Jerry Gurrola leads the team with 9.5 sacks.
Players To Watch
Centennial Hawks
Dante Lopez - Centennial - Quarterback - - Class of 2017 - Thrown for 1,910-yards and 32 touchdowns
Joaquin Gutierrez - Centennial - Class of 2018 - Running Back - Ran for 936-yards and 15 touchdowns
Keath Jasso - Centennial - Class of 2016 -Running Back - Ran for 829-yards and 10 touchdowns
Junior Pena - Centennial - Receiver - Class of 2017 - Caught for 810-yards and 13 touchdowns, 1 punt return for TD, 1 KR for touchdown
Bryce ReWalt - Centennial - Receiver - Class of 2017 - Caught for 809-yards and 14 touchdowns
Chase Austin - Centennial - Tight End - Class of 2016 - Caught for 3 touchdowns
Jake Boykin - Centennial - Linebacker - Class of 2016 - 100 tackles on the year
Jerry Gurrola - Centennial - Defensive Linemen - Class of 2016 - 78 tackles with 9.5 sacks
Edgar Hernandez - Centennial - Defensive Linemen - Class of 2016 - 39 tackles
Marc Sotelo - Centennial - Defensive Back - Class of 2016 - 2 interceptions
Cruz Chavez - Centennial - Defensive Back - Class of 2017 - 2 interceptions
George Nino - Centennial - Offensive Linemen - Class of 2016 - 300 pound 4 year starter
Cameron Burkley - Centennial - Offensive Linemen - Class of 2016 - 275 pound 4 year starter
Artesia Bulldogs
Isaiah Weideman - Artesia - Running Back - Class of 2017 - Scored 11 touchdowns this year
Justin Houghtaling - Artesia - Quarterback - Class of 2016 - Threw for 2,800-yards and 30 touchdowns
Ethan Duff - Artesia - Receiver - Class of 2017 - Caught for 900-yards and 12 touchdowns
Daniel Leon - Artesia - Receiver - Class of 2016 - Caught for 600-yards and 4 touchdowns
Clay Donaghe - Artesia - Receiver - Class of 2016 - Caught for 5 touchdowns
Chaz Matthews - Artesia - Receiver - Class of 2016 - Caught for 3 touchdowns
Caleb Brewer - Artesia - Linebacker - Class of 2016 - 74 tackles
Carlos Carrasco - Artesia - Defensive Back - Class of 2016 - 108 tackles with 9 interceptions
Jacob Enriquez - Artesia - Linebacker - Class of 2016 - 150 tackles
Codey Scott - Artesia - Defensive linemen - Class of 2017 - 90 tackles and 16 sacks
Miguel Martinez - Artesia - Linebacker - Class of 2017 - 109 tackles
Jhrayss Granger - Artesia - Defensive Linemen - Class of 2017 - 264 pounds
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