All Articles

By Don Eskins The Carlsbad Cavemen and Artesia Bulldogs, on a collision course since the end of the 2025 prep gridiron season, will clash under the Friday Night Lights of the Bulldog Bowl on August 21 in the City of Champions. The battle, historically the second-oldest prep football game in the Land of Enchantment, better known as the Eddy County War, will serve as both teams’ 2026 season opener. Oddsmakers, once again, are making the host Bulldogs a heavy favorite. The Dogs

By Don Eskins When the Cavemen soccer team storms the field against the Santa Teresa Desert Warriors on Monday, August 17, in Santa Teresa, they’ll be under the leadership of new head coach Aaron Babcock. Babcock, who inherits a team that posted a record of 3-15 last year, has been teaching English I and U.S. History at CHS for the past three years. Prior to coming to the Cavern City, he enjoyed 25 years of successful coaching and teaching in Texas. Despite Carlsbad’s showing

By Don Eskins The Cavemen offense rode the arm of junior quarterback Marley Munoz, the hands of senior wide receiver Robert Castenada, and the legs of junior running back Brock Wright all the way to the New Mexico state playoff quarterfinals in 2025. Overall, CHS posted a record of 6-6, the offense put up 35 points against the highly regarded Rio Rancho Rams in a 35-13 victory during the first round of state tournament play, and they closed out the year as the Class 6A’s eigh

During June, July, and August, few major leaguers have hurled a baseball better than former Caveman Trevor Rogers. And since stepping up big this summer, his fortunes with the Baltimore Orioles have exploded. Following a slow start earlier this season, he’s posted an eye-catching ERA of just 2.28 with 60 strikeouts through 67 innings of mound duty during the summer months. As a result of his improved play, trade rumors due to his slow start have been put to rest as the Oriole

By Don Eskins Cavegirl soccer, following a disappointing 4-13-2 season in 2025, has been working hard during off-season workouts in hopes of righting their ship this year. CHS’s girls will take the first step toward achieving that goal against the Lovington Wildcats in Lovington on Tuesday, August 18. The JVs will take the field first at 4 p.m., followed by the varsity at 6 p.m. The Wildcats, who experienced a season almost identical to CHS during 2025, posted a record of 4-1

ESPN broadcasters usually have a field day when they make time to salute outstanding coaches. They especially seem to have a great time when they list their picks for Mt. Rushmore-caliber coaches, all iconic in stature. On such days, George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, and old honest Abe Lincoln himself are respectfully given the day off for the purpose of inserting some big-time coaches, at least for a few minutes anyway, in their spots on South Dakota’s

By Don Eskins As Carlsbad well knows, the Cavemen football team took a significant step forward during 2025. Posting an overall record of 6-6, becoming a player in the state playoffs once again, logging a victory in the first round of the state tournament for the first time in 15 years, and closing out the season as Class 6A’s eighth-ranked team were all positive movements forward for CHS. In the Cavemen’s effort to take another step forward in 2026, shoring up the defensive

Getting older is something we all must learn to deal with, at any age. That’s especially true for seniors, and how they deal with it can take a variety of forms. One way is to buy into an old adage that simply says, “Age is a matter of mind; if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” For them, every moment of every day is one to be cherished. In Carlsbad, nobody exemplifies this adage more than long-time Rio Pecos Tennis Shop pro Charlie Jurva. Jurva, now 80, continues to live li

By Don Eskins Well, Carlsbad, who would have thunk it? Another year of Cavemen football just 21 days away. But in Carlsbad, to call 2026 just another year of football would be a gross understatement. 2026 promises to be one of the most exciting years of Cavemen football Cavern City fans have witnessed in quite some time. Whether it turns out that way is yet to be seen. But it’s pretty safe to say that several of the key pieces necessary for the Cavemen to make a deep run into

By Don Eskins With the new prep cross country season just around the corner, the Carlsbad Cavemen and Cavegirls will kick off 2026 with cautious optimism. And for CHS, there are a lot of good reasons to be optimistic. When the gun goes off to officially open up the new year at El Paso Eastwood on Friday, August 21, both the boys’ and girls’ programs will be toeing the line with a boatload of returnees, many of whom were CHS headliners during 2025. All told, six Cavemen and si

Turning Back Time by Don Eskins Growing up during the early 60’s was quite an experience for young boys throughout Carlsbad, of which I was one. With fewer distractions (no internet, no cable TV or streaming services, no video games, etc.), youngsters were forced to focus on a much more limited range of life’s interests. And for us, what could have been more interesting than iconic head Cavemen football coach Ralph Bowyer and his charges? Yup, in those days, don’t think you