#9OT high school football preview: Las Cruces Bulldawgs

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KTSM) — The Las Cruces High School Bulldawgs are aiming to top what they were able to accomplish in 2023.

Last season, the Bulldawgs went from 0-4 to Final Four.

Las Cruces High School started its season with four straight losses before it went onto finish its regular season winning five of its last six. In the playoffs, the Bulldawgs beat Los Lunas and pulled off the upset over Centennial to advance to the New Mexico 6A state semifinals.

In the semifinals, Las Cruces High fell 63-33 to La Cueva, who ended up being the 2023 state football champions.

This season, Las Cruces High returns a lot of varsity experienced players and are ready to build off its very successful 2023 season.

“We went in hungry into the offseason and wanted to see how we developed as a group, kind of the personality they developed and they really gelled together as a team,” Las Cruces High School football head coach Mark Lopez said. “When you get a group like that, that’s got some talent, you could potentially be dangerous. But as of right now, that’s all it is, it’s potential, so we got to do something about that.”

“[What we did last season] has given us confidence but we are still hungry,” Las Cruces High senior linebacker and fullback Dalin Walter said. “We only made it to the semifinals. We always want to make it to the state championship.”

“[Our goal] this year is to make it to a state championship and win it,” Las Cruces High junior running back Daniel Amaro said. “Our goal is pretty much to better than last year. You always want to take a step forward and never a step back.”

Las Cruces High School is seen as an early favorite to contend for a state championship this season. The Bulldawgs start its season off with a big non-district game. It’s a rivalry game against Mayfield on Friday at the Field of Dreams in Las Cruces.

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