2026 Team Preview: Highland Hornets

OVERVIEW   Highland is widely regarded as a basketball school – the Hornets won the Class 4A state championship in March – but the football program has made tremendous strides over the last several years. Highland has posted back-to-back 7-5 seasons and reached the quarterfinals of the Class 5A playoffs.   The Hornets are eying their fifth straight winning season in 2026. Last November, Highland beat Mayfield in the first round of the playoffs before traveling to the Bulldog Bowl to face eventual champion Artesia.   “Our kids played their hearts out at Artesia,” Highland coach Philip Lovato told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “They didn't quit. They know we're a small team (numbers), no one is coming off the field and nobody is coming to save them. They have to do it together. Last year was fun and unexpected.”   OFFENSE   While the players may change, two things will stay the same about the Highland offense: the Hornets will pound the football on the ground and they'll line up in some bizarre formations. They didn't attempt a pass in the playoff win over Mayfield.   “I give my offensive coordinator full autonomy to do what he wants,” Lovato said. “We come up with all kinds of weird stuff. The kids enjoy it. We've found our little niche. Based on what we have, we can't be traditional. It's very detailed. We were able to execute that pretty well against a storied program like Mayfield.”   Rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='2109032' first='George' last='Salzano'] returns at quarterback. He threw 6 TD passes in 2025. The Hornets ran the football about 90 percent of the time and averaged close to 290 rushing yards per game last season. But they must find a way to replace a 1,600-yard rusher in 2026. Speedy rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1688720' first='William' last='Anchondo'] ascends to the No. 1 RB job. He utilized his outstanding speed to gain 866 yards and score 9 TD last season. Rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1613656' first='Andres' last='Acosta'] returns at fullback after gaining almost 600 yards and scoring 8 TD last season.   “William is a stud,” Lovato said. “We're going to do what we do, which is run the football. We know we have to throw the ball a little more to go with our run game.”   Rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1272783' first='Jasper' last='Groves'] will be the H-Back. He should have a larger role in the offense this season. Groves is impressively strong. He won the title in the 198-pound class at the State Powerlifting Championships in April.   Rising senior Ryan Curtis will be the main receiver when the Hornets decide to throw the football. Anchondo will get opportunities to catch the football since he's so dynamic in space. The third receiver job is up for grabs.            The strength of the offense will be an experienced Highland offensive line. All five starters are back. Rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1788707' first='Carlos' last='Mancilla'] returns at center. The two guards are rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='2104501' first='Tony' last='Fisher'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1613740' first='Malachi' last='Bouvia']. The two tackles will be rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1826038' first='Marcellius' last='Williams'] and rising senior Daniel Nguyen.   “Those guys all do powerlifting, so they've all gotten stronger,” Lovato said. “They know exactly what we're doing. They have good communication. Knock on wood, if we stay healthy, we can do some amazing things with our offensive line.”     Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='2109032' first='George' last='Salzano'] (WB), [player_tooltip player_id='1688720' first='William' last='Anchondo'] (RB), [player_tooltip player_id='1613656' first='Andres' last='Acosta'] (RB), [player_tooltip player_id='1788707' first='Carlos' last='Mancilla'] (OL).   DEFENSE   Highland has a considerable number of players going both ways. Lovato is taking charge of the defense with help from another assistant. The defensive line will likely be the aforementioned five guys on the offensive line.   “We're looking at our front five to apply a lot of pressure,” Lovato said. “We're going to be more aggressive there.”   [player_tooltip player_id='2104501' first='Tony' last='Fisher'] led the Hornets with 6.5 sacks last season. [player_tooltip player_id='1613740' first='Malachi' last='Bouvia'] had a team-high 13 QB hurries.   The two linebackers will be Andre Acosta and [player_tooltip player_id='1272783' first='Jasper' last='Groves']. That duo were the top two tacklers last season with 78 and 67 stops, respectively. [player_tooltip player_id='1688720' first='William' last='Anchondo'] and Ryan Curtis headline the secondary.   Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='1613656' first='Andres' last='Acosta'] (LB), [player_tooltip player_id='1272783' first='Jasper' last='Groves'] (LB), [player_tooltip player_id='2104501' first='Tony' last='Fisher'] (DL), [player_tooltip player_id='1613740' first='Malachi' last='Bouvia'] (DL).   2026 HIGHLAND SCHEDULE   Aug. 20 RIO GRANDE (Thur.)       Aug. 27 at Del Norte (Thur.)       Sept. 5 at West Mesa (Sat., 11 a.m.)      Sept. 11 at Santa Fe*      Sept. 18 CAPITAL (Homecoming)*      Sept. 24  LOS ALAMOS (Thur.)*     Oct. 2 Bye      Oct. 9 at Miyamura*      Oct. 15 CIBOLA (Thur.)*     Oct. 23 PIEDRA VISTA*      Oct. 30 at Los Lunas*   * District 5A-1 Game   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">💫Sophomore Season💫 Debut Varsity Year. State Quarterfinalists going 7-5. A lot to improve on, but I'm looking forward to doing so! 6 TDs on 20 comp. 12.7 avg. 1 rush TD 333 total yds<a href="https://t.co/r9280Mwai6">https://t.co/r9280Mwai6</a><a href="https://x.com/SprayberryJay?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SprayberryJay</a> <a href="https://x.com/NMrecruits?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NMrecruits</a> <a href="https://x.com/nmpreps?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmpreps</a> <a href="https://x.com/TerrenceIsaac1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TerrenceIsaac1</a> <a href="https://x.com/HHS_HornetsFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HHS_HornetsFB</a>— Jorge Salzano (@jorge_salz12) <a href="https://x.com/jorge_salz12/status/1997885660456509804?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2025</a></blockquote>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sophomore Year✅ 7-5 made it to the Quarterfinals, I had a great season and going to continue getting better. 104 Carries 866 Rushing Yards 9 Rushing TD's 1 receiving TD 8.3 a carry<a href="https://t.co/QQ9G96znLI">https://t.co/QQ9G96znLI</a><a href="https://x.com/SprayberryJay?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SprayberryJay</a> <a href="https://x.com/HHS_HornetsFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HHS_HornetsFB</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://x.com/nmpreps?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmpreps</a> <a href="https://x.com/NMrecruits?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NMrecruits</a>— [player_tooltip player_id='1688720' first='William' last='Anchondo'] (@will_anchondo10) <a href="https://x.com/will_anchondo10/status/1994881286914396412?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2025</a></blockquote>

OVERVIEW