KSVP

Deja vu .. is it still 2008?

The parallels to last year are uncanny. After Friday's 47 to 35 loss to the Goddard Rockets, Artesia finishes the season at 6 and 4, 1 and 1 in district. The 2009 Bulldogs losses were to the same 4 teams as last year, Manzano, Las Cruces, Clovis and Goddard. Goddard will be the district champ, and Artesia is hoping to receive a top 4 seed this weekend.

In this years game, two Artesia pass interceptions were turned into 13 Rocket points, and the Artesia defense just couldn't get a stop when it needed it. It didn't help that the offense sputtered on a 1st and goal at the Goddard 10 early in the 2nd half only to see Goddard march down the field to take a 2-score lead.

Bright spots included two more kick off returns for scores, and a beautiful 65 yard pass for a TD by Koby Caton.

Check back here late Saturday night to see where the Artesia volleyball and football teams will be seeded in the upcoming playoffs.

Too Good To Be True

It was a disappointing evening for the Artesia Lady Bulldog Volleyball team Tuesday night at the pit.

After taking a 2-games-to-none lead in the best of 5 series (25-21 and 25-12), Roswell (12-9, 0-4) won game three 25-20. In game 4, Artesia was at match point 24 to 22, but Roswell went on a 4 point run to win 26 to 24. Game 5 was a first to 15 match and Roswell ran away with the victory 15 to 4.

Roswell will face cross-town rival Goddard for the District 4-4A championship Saturday night at Ground Zero. Artesia, after finishing with a 15-6 record, (2 and 2 in District) will hope for a favorable decision by the playoff seeding committee for one of the 12 post-season slots.

AHS vs. Roswell Volleyball Video On Net

KSVP-AM will be working with the media students at Artesia High School to present a video web-cast of Tuesday nights' Artesia vs. Roswell District Volleyball match.

Log in here at www.ksvpradio.com to hear and watch as Jim Wilburn and Anna Byers describe all of the action.

On Air on AM 990

On Line at www.ksvpradio.com audio AND video!

Bulldogs Rip Coyotes

The first half looked like a game. The second half was ALL Bulldogs. Artesia wins 48 to 7 to set up a game for the District Championship with the Goddard Rockets in Artesia next week.

At halftime the score was 21 to 7 Artesia with the Coyotes out gaining the Bulldogs in yardage, first downs and time of possession.

The second half was never in doubt as Artesia scored early and often and never allowed the Coyotes to control the ball and the clock.

Coby Caton had a huge night with a kick-off return for a touchdown, a punt return for a touchdown and a couple of touchdown catches for the Bulldogs.

Artesia is now 1 and 0 in district, 6 and 3 overall. Roswell will finish the season 1 and 9, 0 - 2 in district.

Volleyball Wins

No tie-breakers ... the Artesia Bulldogs swept the Roswell Lady Coyotes 3-0 to earn 2nd place in district and host a playoff game.

The scores were 25-21, 25-22 and 25-20.

Goddard will win the district season 4-0, Artesia 2-2 and Roswell 0-4.

Artesia will host Roswell at The Pit 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 3rd. The winner will travel to Goddard on Saturday, November 7. Artesia will play a non-district match at Clovis on Thursday. A victory would help Artesia when the seeding committee meets to determine rankings for the State Tournament.

Remembering a great salesman.

Mr. Bill Faber passed away this past weekend. I write this here because we would not be where we are today with coverage of Artesia High School sports if it were not for 'Mr. Bill'. 

When I moved to Artesia in the spring of 1991, there was much turmoil at the radio station. I was the 5th manager in 4 years and the stations were not preforming well at all. My job was to turn things around or the stations were going to be sold off.

I spent the first months taking calls canceling orders, fixing broken down equipment and weeding through a staff of people that weren't dedicated to the station. This included the loss of every sales rep who was at the station when I started, and several who came and left shortly after I arrived.

Then arrived 'Mr. Bill'. Together we put together what would be our first season of Artesia High School football coverage. Working with Jim Wilburn, Dave Button and another transplant from Mississippi, Rodney Block, Mr. Bill, Rodney and I convinced enough people in Artesia that we were worthy of their support for a football advertising campaign.

How we presented Artesia football was appreciated and accepted, and for the next 18 years, Mr. Bill would go through his files each August (he didn't believe in computers ... everything was written down) and line up his sponsors for renewal. Within a week while the rest of the sales staff was trying to decide who they were going to call on, Mr. Bill would have all of his sponsors signed up and ready to go.

There is a phrase in business that goes something like this; nothing happens until something is sold. For the past 19 years, Mr. Bill was the one person on our staff who made sure something was sold, and as a result great things have happened.

-Gene Dow

Ladydog Volleyball on the Radio-Internet this week

District 4-4A volleyball continues this week as Artesia will host the Goddard Lady Rockets Thursday night at Bulldog Pit. Goddard is 1-0, Artesia is 1-1 and Roswell is 0-1 going into this weeks action. Goddard hosts Roswell Tuesday, October 20th.

Join Jim Wilburn and Anna Byers starting at apx. 6:45pm Thursday on AM 990 KSVP and on-line!

Another Tough Loss

A depleated Artesia Bulldog football team took on another top 5-A football program, and lost ... this time to the Clovis Wildcats 48 to 10 at Bulldog Bowl in Artesia.

Artesia was minus starting running back Jacob Olivas who was injured in practice this week. Once again the Bulldog defence did not get a stop, Clovis never punted, and the offence just could not complete drives for touchdowns.

Clovis was up 13-0 before Artesia scored to make the score 13 to 7. Clovis returned the ensuing kickoff to the Artesia 28 and scored right away. The last time Artesia scored was with a field goal at the end of the first half.

In the second half, Artesia attempted an onside kick, but that did not work, and a interception on the next drive gave Clovis two short fields to start with in the second half.

This also marks the third time that Artesia has been defeated by more than 35 points this season.

Artesia falls to 4 and 3, Clovis improves to 6 and 2. Artesia hosts Moriarty next week, Clovis is off.

Jimmy Boyce's Stats:

Clovis Wildcats:

RUSHING:

Quaran Wiggins 20 carries for 194 yards and 3 TD's, Raymond Beachum 16 carries for 80 yards and 1 TD, Jordan Hill 8 carries for 60 yards and 2 TD's, Travis Davis 6 carries for 38 yards and 1 TD. TOTAL 52 carries for 381 yards and 7 TD's.

PASSING:

Jordan Hill 1 for 1 for 10 yards and 0 TD's.

TOTAL 391 yards, 0 punts, 0 fumbles, 20 rushing 1st downs, 1 passing 1st down.

Artesia Bulldogs:

RUSHING: Deven Nelson, 7 carries for 24 yards; Josh Houghtling 3 carries for 12 yards; Andy lopez 10 carries for 72 yards; Daylan Romine 1 carry for 1 yard.

PASSING:

Josh Houghtling 15 for 23, 1 INT, 180 yards, 1 TD; Deven Nelson 9 of 15, 73 yards.

TOTAL: 362 yards, 2 punts 35 yard average, 0 fumbles, 1 INT, 5 rushing 1st downs, 14 passing 1st downs. Rolando Chaverria 1 FG 24 yards.

Volleyball Tonight

KSVP-AM 990 and www.ksvpradio.com will cover Artesia volleyball through the rest of the Distrist 4-4A schedule.

Join Jim Wilburn and Anna Simms-Byers for all the coverage. Thursday, October 15 will be Artesia vs. Roswell at the Bulldog Pit.

Coverage will begin around 6:30pm

Bulldawgs defeat the Bulldogs 42 to 7

The Bulldawgs win! - yeah, the other Bulldawgs.

The Las Cruces Bullawgs showed why they are a top 3 team in 5-A with a 42 to 7 defeat of the Artesia Bulldogs in Las Cruses.

Early on it looked like it might be a 'who has the ball last' kind of game like it was in Las Cruces two years ago. Las Cruces scored first and Artesia marched right back down the field to tie the game. But after that first and only Artesia score the Bulldawg defense was way too much for the Artesia offence, and the Artesia defence? Well, we need to work hard at stopping the other team. Las Cruces NEVER punted.

It's Open Date ... what will you be doing? Take our poll.

Jimmy Boyce's Stats:

Las Cruces:

RUSHING: 47 carries for 320 yards and 6 T.D.'s, 18 rushing First Downs. Leading rusher was Xavier Hall who carried the ball 17 times for 145 yards at 2 T.D.'s

PASSING: Jeremy Burma was 6 of 9 for 99 yards and 4 passing First Downs.

TOTAL YARDS: 419

Artesia:

RUSHING:24 carries for 91 yards and 0 T.D.'s, 10 rushing First Downs. Leading rusher was Jacob Olivas who carried the ball 9 times for 51 yards

PASSING: Deven Nelson was 6 of 13 for 100 yards and 0 T.D.'s, Jeff Houghtling was 9 of 18 for 86 yards, 1 INT and 1 T.D. There were 6 passing First Downs.

TOTAL YARDS: 186