Cale Sanders' Biggest Call in the Bulldog Bowl

Bits & Pieces by Don Eskins

Whether sitting in the Artesia Bulldog Bowl bleachers or watching online some 811 miles away in Springfield, Mo., prep football fans had to be impressed by the Carlsbad Cavemen's effort in their 20-13 victory over heavily favored Artesia on Friday night, August 21.

In chalking up their first win of 2026, the Cavemen, now in their fourth year under the leadership of CHS head coach Cale Sanders, played with confidence, poise, and maturity.

On calls from Sanders, also the team's offensive coordinator, the Cavemen stepped up to make big and explosive plays throughout the night.

Whether it be running back Brock Wright's 18-yard burst up the middle for a second-quarter touchdown or wideout Jaden Harper streaking down the sideline to haul in a 59-yard touchdown pass from Cavemen signal caller Marley Munoz during the same frame, there were lots of big or grinding plays to keep Carlsbad's offensive hopes alive.

However, as big as these plays were, Sanders made another.

With the Cavemen up 20-13, the ball sitting on the Bulldog 4-yard line with only 1:07 left on the clock, and a victory over the Bulldogs seemingly in the books, Sanders made a most interesting call.

In the midst of an age of in-your-face football and might makes right, a rivalry that has been ongoing since 1913, and a coach that has watched the Bulldogs run up the score on his team for the past three years, outscoring them 147-38 as he's tried to rebuild Carlsbad's program, the Cavemen coach chose restraint over revenge, compassion and respect over humiliation, and had his quarterback take a knee as time ran off the clock to end the game.

"We went to Artesia to win a ball game. As the game wound down in the fourth quarter, and the game safely in our hands, we didn't need to run up the score on Artesia. That's not something I want to teach our kids."

Evidently, to Sanders, football is about more than just winning! In Artesia, with time running out in the fourth quarter and payback lying just four short yards away, the Cavemen head coach chose principle over profit. What a lesson for his charges. Let's hope they were in class and watching closely!

Kudos to coach Sanders and his staff!