Zuni wins game over Shiprock with safety
Special to the Times | Truman Begaye
Shiprock’s defense surrounds Zuni’s Julian Peynetsa to bring him down during a Zuni Thunderbirds 2-0 win on Saturday afternoon.
By Truman Begaye
Special to the Times
ZUNI, N.M.
A bad snap and a safety proved to be all the Zuni Thunderbirds needed Saturday afternoon.
In a game filled with turnovers, penalties and missed opportunities, Zuni escaped with its first victory of the 2026 season by edging the Shiprock Chieftains 2-0.
Neither offense scored, and the game’s only points came with 11:51 remaining in the fourth quarter when Shiprock was forced to punt from its own 4-yard line. The snap sailed over the punter’s head and out of the end zone, giving Zuni a safety and the lead for good.
Until then, both teams had opportunities to break the scoreless tie but struggled to overcome mistakes.
To read the full article, please see the Sept. 3, 2026, edition of the Navajo Times.
Get instant access to this story by purchasing one of our many e-edition subscriptions HERE at our Navajo Times Store.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow