Thursday Throwdown: Belen-Highland Recap and Video

<p><strong>ALBUQUERQUE</strong> – Highland running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615425' first='Amiri' last='Mumba']</strong> resumed to his Superman role Thursday night.</p>   <p>Slowed by injuries for several weeks, Mumba proclaimed his return to full health by rushing for over 250 yards and three touchdowns, including a stunning 67-yarder out of the Wildcat formation on the final play of the first half, in Thursday's 18-7 victory over Belen at Milne Stadium.</p>   <p>Mumba, our No. 1 RB in the 2025 rankings, began the season with back-to-back 240+ yard rushing games against Manzano and Bernalillo. However, an injury sustained in that latter game limited his carries over the next five games. The Hornets went 2-3 in those games and entered Thursday's clash with Belen at 3-4 facing a must-win situation to enhance their Class 5A playoff hopes.  </p>   <p>Mumba got them over the finish line.</p>   <p>His 5-yard TD run in the second quarter gave Highland a 6-0 lead. Belen responded with a 65-yard scoring drive led by sophomore QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604925' first='Gonzalo' last='Cano']</strong>. Senior RB/WR <strong>Brady Aragon</strong> capped the drive with a 23-yard TD run.</p>   <p>The PAT gave Belen a short-lived 7-6 lead.</p>   <p>Just when it looked like that would be the halftime score, Highland called timeout with just a few seconds remaining in the second quarter after stopping Belen on fourth down.</p>   <p>Mumba lined up in the Wildcat formation, took the snap and powered his way down the left side for 67 yards and the go-ahead TD. The first half scoreboard clock hits zeroes when he crossed the goal line. Highland's two-point attempt failed, but the Hornets had the momentum with the 12-7 lead.</p>   <p>Highland continued to utilize Mumba in the Wildcat in the second half and by the late stages of the third quarter, their effort to wear down the Belen defense was working.</p>   <p>After Mumba scored his third TD on a 54-yard run early in the fourth quarter, the stout Hornets defense stopped Belen again with an interception. The Highland offense drained precious minutes off the clock by lining up in the power formation and giving the ball to Mumba over and over again.</p>   <p>After scoring in the second quarter, the Belen offense was stymied the rest of the night by elite DE <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1118373' first='Shawn' last='Wharepapa']</strong> and the rest of the Hornets defense. Belen fell to 2-5 and probably faces must-win situations in their final two games against Capitol and Rio Grande to make the 5A playoffs.    </p>   <p><strong>VIDEO 1: First Possessions By Each Team</strong></p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/mZuLBlDIYf8?si=y3oS7Z6GSeFa_yth </div></figure>   <p><strong>VIDEO 2: First Quarter</strong></p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/DmBf_dvt-2I?si=SWxKa7AismJtJDOg </div></figure>   <p><strong>VIDEO 3: Second Quarter (Highland TD)</strong></p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/7PbUIQXGDrU?si=f1pPZjE5B7v5xQ-V </div></figure>   <p><strong>VIDEO 4: Second Quarter (Belen TD)</strong></p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/jzSC-WeIOeI?si=Q6jxhyPs--VDyd_o </div></figure>   <p><strong>VIDEO 5: Third Quarter</strong></p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/B4PTlpJktTw?si=eA1VlpGE77svqSnK </div></figure>   <p><strong>VIDEO 6: Late Third Quarter</strong></p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/KQOI1lb9SIU?si=cENrJC1v51XRypcA </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM/status/1847291175197151371 </div></figure>   <p><strong>ADDITIONAL VIDEO</strong></p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/nMJFeTSDl6I?si=_naDGJ4fIV9Q-znu </div></figure>   <p></p>

ALBUQUERQUE – Highland running back Amiri Mumba Amiri Mumba 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Highland | 2025 State NM resumed to his Superman role Thursday night.