2025 Team Preview: Highland Hornets

2025 HIGHLAND PREVIEW   OVERVIEW   Just one team in Class 5A has to replace the classification's leading rusher from last season, and for 2025 that team is Highland, who begin life without Eastern New Mexico signee Amiri Mumba, who was one of only two running backs in the state last season to eclipse 2,000 yards on the ground. They must also replace dynamic quarterback Alex Lopez. No, it won't be easy.   With Mumba and Lopez leading the way, Highland reached the quarterfinals of the Class 5A playoffs in 2024 for the first time in recent memory.   “It's obviously different not having Amiri and Alex, but we have some good young players,” Highland head coach Philip Lovato told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “We're just trying to make the best of everything. I don't think we're going to find a running back like Amiri again anytime soon. We have only a handful of seniors, so we'll be very young. But that's usually the case with us.”   OFFENSE   3 Players To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1688720' first='William' last='Anchondo'] (QB), [player_tooltip player_id='1137423' first='Jose' last='Tapia'] (WR/RB), [player_tooltip player_id='1751083' first='Miles' last='Obregon'] (OL)   Without Mumba around to carry the ball 236 times as he did last season, Lovato has tasked his offensive coaches with finding more  creative ways to move the football in 2025.   “We're trying to figure out ways to get the ball to some of our other playmakers,” Lovato said.   The starting quarterback job will likely boil down to rising senior Isaies Trujillo and rising sophomores George Salzano and [player_tooltip player_id='1688720' first='William' last='Anchondo']. Lovato said Highland will ‘likely' start one of the younger QBs to give the Hornets continuity over multiple seasons. If there's a favorite, it could be Anchondo, who was described as ‘really quick.' As a result, Anchondo could be the best running threat.   Because replacing Mumba will prove difficult, Highland could go with a running back by committee approach. Rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1137423' first='Jose' last='Tapia'] has the most experience - albeit 21 carries in 2024 – and the Hornets could lean on that this season. Tapia is also very good catching the football. If Anchondo wins the QB job, look for plenty of runs out of him. Rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1613656' first='Andres' last='Acosta'] will get opportunities as well along with rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1751053' first='Isaiah' last='Cheromiah'], who has been productive on jet sweeps in the past.   Highland threw the ball just 72 times in 2024, but the Hornet receivers should have a bigger role in their more diversified offense in 2025. But that's contingent, of course, on finding a quarterback capable of throwing the football. When the Hornets do put the ball in the air, [player_tooltip player_id='1137423' first='Jose' last='Tapia'] and rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1787474' first='Curtis' last='Ryan'] will likely be the main targets. [player_tooltip player_id='1751053' first='Isaiah' last='Cheromiah'] will be a factor as well as the Highland coaches are pushing to give him a larger role in the offense. Rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1272783' first='Jasper' last='Groves'] will line up in the H-Back/TE spot.   “We're going to have to be creative on how we throw the football,” Lovato said. “We don't have a lot of guys. So, we have to figure out how to get it to the right guys when it counts. We're hoping our ground game will help open up the downfield passing like it did last season. We may not have as many big plays when we had Amiri, but I'm confident we can move the ball on some people.”   Rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1751083' first='Miles' last='Obregon'] anchors the offensive line. [player_tooltip player_id='1751107' first='David' last='Crespin'] returns as well. The promising newcomer is 6-foot-4, 230-pound rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1826038' first='Marcellius' last='Williams']. Rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1613740' first='Malachi' last='Bouvia'] could make an impact.   “Our offensive line is going to be a lot better than last year,: Lovato said. “We're hoping that will be a spark for us.”                                          DEFENSE   3 Players To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1613740' first='Malachi' last='Bouvia'] (DL), [player_tooltip player_id='1272783' first='Jasper' last='Groves'] (DL/LB), [player_tooltip player_id='1613656' first='Andres' last='Acosta'] (DB).   Highland started mostly underclassmen on defense last season, so they return a significant number of players who have seen meaningful action.   “Defensively, we're coming back with a lot of good young players that have experience,” Lovato said. “I'm hoping that will help carry us.”   [player_tooltip player_id='1613740' first='Malachi' last='Bouvia'] will be counted on to make a difference on defense. DL [player_tooltip player_id='1751133' first='Carlos' last='Mancilla'] was limited by a knee injury last season but he's healthy now and could give opposing offensive lines fits. Mancilla is quick and plays with a low pad level.   [player_tooltip player_id='1272783' first='Jasper' last='Groves'] plays both DE and OLB and had 45 tackles as a sophomore in 2024. He's also a very strong guy as he won the Class 4A state power-lifting championship in the 165-pound class in April.   [player_tooltip player_id='1613656' first='Andres' last='Acosta'] (top returning tackler) headlines the LB corps. [player_tooltip player_id='1688720' first='William' last='Anchondo'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1137423' first='Jose' last='Tapia'] anchor the secondary. [player_tooltip player_id='1787474' first='Curtis' last='Ryan'] knows how to play with leverage. Ryan is a bit undersized so opposing teams could try to throw on him, but he make splays.   “Defensively, we have guys coming back that can replace some of the guys we lost,” Lovato said.      2025 Highland Football Schedule:   Aug. 21 MANZANO (Thur., 7 p.m.)       Aug. 28 BERNALILLO (Thur., 7 p.m.)         Sept. 5 at Taos (6 p.m.)            Sept. 12 LOS ALAMOS (7 p.m.)*           Sept. 20 at Rio Grande (Sat., 11 a.m.)*            Sept. 26 at Valley (7 p.m.)*           Oct. 3 at Miyamura (7 p.m.)*          Oct. 10 Bye            Oct. 17 at Belen (7 p.m.)*           Oct. 24 at Capital (7 p.m.)*            Oct. 30 DEL NORTE (Thur., 7 p.m.)*          * District 5A-1 Game   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This is the Hornets first playoff win in 20 years. They will travel to the Wool Bowl and face #1 Roswell in the state Quarterfinals. Congratulations to coach Lovato on his first playoff win at Highland and to the Hornet on their playoff victory! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DOWHATITTAKES?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DOWHATITTAKES</a> <a href="https://t.co/lDdqYBx7Ll">pic.twitter.com/lDdqYBx7Ll</a>— Highland Hornets Football (@HHS_HornetsFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/HHS_HornetsFB/status/1855150192699301892?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2024</a></blockquote>

2025 HIGHLAND PREVIEW