Highland High football coach Phil Lovato is hoping his Hornets will prove adept at learning on the job this season.

“This is one of our biggest freshmen classes in a long time, but with limited experience,” Lovato told the New Mexico Sun.

Fresh off of qualifying for the state playoffs last season, Lovato said he has no doubt the Hornets will be ready for battle this season.

The Cougars opened on the road on Aug. 19 against West Las Vegas High, where they fell 34-8, according to MaxPreps.

All season, Lovato said Highland’s aim will be to get better and grow.

“Obviously to win the games that we match up with and use this year to help the seniors prepare for life after high school,” he added. “Our strength is the idea of being ‘all in,' This group chose to stand against everyone and was/is willing to forfeit games for the safety of their younger players.”

One player Lovato knows he can count on from the opening snap is senior linebacker/offensive linemen Abraham Lopez.

“He is a talented linebacker, has a natural sense of the ball and is an excellent tackler,” he said.

Lovato hints that he doesn’t expect to run into any problems this season getting his Hornets up for any of the nine regular season games on their schedule. 

“Every game is a key matchup for us,” he said. “We need experience.”