Highland Hornets 2024 Preseason Preview
NMPreps Preseason Rank: #34
NMPreps continues to release our early New Mexico high school football preseason rankings to get you ready for the 2024 season. We will rank all 89 teams scheduled to play in the newly aligned 6A-2A classifications, competing in 11-man football. #nmpreps
2023 Playoffs: 5A State First Round
Points Scored: 267
Points Given Up: 312
Streak into 2024: 1-game losing streak
2024 Classification: District 1-5A
However, the Hornets hit their stride and turned their season around with a decisive 54-32 win over 5A Albuquerque-Del Norte. This victory sparked a winning streak, as they triumphed over 3A Hope Christian (45-14), 4A Albuquerque-Manzano (18-8), and 4A Pojoaque Valley (28-6), finishing non-district play with a 4-3 overall record.
Entering district play, the Hornets extended their winning streak to five games with a narrow 32-30 victory over Belen. Despite a 52-18 loss to eventual district champion Piedra Vista, they bounced back with a solid 43-24 win over Miyamura, ending district play with a 2-1 record.
The Hornets earned a 10-seed in the playoffs but faced a tough matchup against 7-seed Los Alamos in the first round, falling 55-13. Despite the early playoff exit, the Hornets finished the season with a respectable 6-5 overall record, showcasing their resilience and ability to bounce back from a challenging start.
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NMPreps Preseason Rank: #34
NMPreps continues to release our early New Mexico high school football preseason rankings to get you ready for the 2024 season. We will rank all 89 teams scheduled to play in the newly aligned 6A-2A classifications, competing in 11-man football. #nmpreps
2023 Season Review
Record: 6-5 overall, 2-1 district2023 Playoffs: 5A State First Round
Points Scored: 267
Points Given Up: 312
Streak into 2024: 1-game losing streak
2024 Classification: District 1-5A
2023 Season Recap: Resilient Turnaround
What looked like a bleak start turned into a playoff berth for the Hornets. The season began with a tough opener against 4A Portales, resulting in a 45-0 loss. The challenges continued with a 28-2 defeat to 4A St. Pius X and a close 18-14 loss to 4A Bernalillo, leaving the Hornets at 0-3.However, the Hornets hit their stride and turned their season around with a decisive 54-32 win over 5A Albuquerque-Del Norte. This victory sparked a winning streak, as they triumphed over 3A Hope Christian (45-14), 4A Albuquerque-Manzano (18-8), and 4A Pojoaque Valley (28-6), finishing non-district play with a 4-3 overall record.
Entering district play, the Hornets extended their winning streak to five games with a narrow 32-30 victory over Belen. Despite a 52-18 loss to eventual district champion Piedra Vista, they bounced back with a solid 43-24 win over Miyamura, ending district play with a 2-1 record.
The Hornets earned a 10-seed in the playoffs but faced a tough matchup against 7-seed Los Alamos in the first round, falling 55-13. Despite the early playoff exit, the Hornets finished the season with a respectable 6-5 overall record, showcasing their resilience and ability to bounce back from a challenging start.
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2024 Outlook: Offensive & Defensive Players to Watch
The offense for the Highland Hornets is headlined by NMPreps100 top ten player Amiri Mumba (2025), returning after a stellar season with 1,800 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. Mumba, ranked as the second-best running back in New Mexico high school football, will be the driving force behind the Hornets' offense in 2024.This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.
