Pine Hill Warriors make history with first football victory over Ramah Mustangs

By Robert Bettis
Navajo Times

WINDOW ROCK – In a historic game for the Pine Hill Warriors, the varsity football team secured their first-ever win against the Ramah High School Mustangs, a team that has consistently outscored them in the past.

The Warriors’ victory marked a significant milestone in the program’s history and demonstrates the resilience and growth of the small, homegrown team.

Coach Lawrence Yazzie, who took over as head coach this year, emphasized the importance of teamwork, brotherhood, and cultural pride as key components of their success.

“Ramah has had a bigger program, they’ve won state before,” Yazzie said. “The boys were hesitant at first, but we encouraged them, and they played together as a family. When they play as one, amazing things happen.”

The game against Ramah was a testament to Pine Hill’s evolving team dynamic under Coach Yazzie’s leadership.

“We’re really stressing family and brotherhood here,” Yazzie said. “These boys are learning to trust each other and play together, and that has made all the difference.”

Despite facing challenges, including a small roster of just 13 players compared to other teams with over 25, the Warriors have shown strength. Coach Yazzie, along with his assistants Lars Yazzie and Anfernee Begay, introduced new strategies and drills that helped the team find its rhythm.

“I was an assistant at Newcomb High School for three years, and I brought a lot of what I learned there—about family and teamwork—here to Pine Hill,” said Yazzie. “We’ve been building a strong foundation based on trust, and the wins are starting to take care of themselves.”

In a previous game against Questa, a team that had previously mercy-ruled Pine Hill, the Warriors staged an impressive comeback in the second half.

“At halftime, we were down, and it looked like another mercy rule, but after talking to the boys about brotherhood and playing together, we outscored them 24-18 in the second half,” Yazzie recalled. “That’s when most of the boys started believing.”

Cultural pride plays a significant role in the team’s development. The Warriors, part of the small satellite band of Ramah Navajos, have embraced their heritage as a source of strength on and off the field.

“We stress that the boys are representing their families and their people,” Yazzie said. “Many of these boys are related through our clanship system, so we remind them that they’re not just teammates—they’re brothers.”

Looking ahead, coach Yazzie aims to continue building on this foundation. He hopes to strengthen the team’s relationships and grow his players into good men, fathers and brothers.

“We’re small, but we’re building something great here,” Yazzie said. “The respect and brotherhood we’re fostering will lead to more success in the future.”

With their first win over Ramah High School under their belts, the Pine Hill Warriors have shown that, despite their size, they are a team on the rise. As coach Yazzie put it, “When the boys believe in each other, amazing things happen.”

---