The Lobos opened their 1998 regular season schedule with a commanding 47-3 victory over the Cowboys at home on Sunday. Under head coach Ivory Roberts, the Lobos controlled the game from start to finish, improving to 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the division. The Cowboys, led by Francis Fairbank, fell to 0-1.

Quarterback Josef Smith was the clear standout for El Paso, completing 34 of 45 passes for 347 yards and 4 touchdowns, while adding 18 yards on the ground. Smith connected multiple times with tight end Joshua Rohr, who tallied 82 receiving yards and scored twice on short touchdown receptions in the first quarter.

The scoring opened early when Smith found Rohr for a 1-yard touchdown at 9:38 of the first quarter, putting the Lobos ahead 6-0. The Cowboys managed a 32-yard field goal by Howard Smith on their next possession to close the gap to 6-3, but the Lobos responded with another touchdown pass to Rohr late in the quarter for a 12-3 lead.

In the second quarter, Smith continued to work efficiently, reaching wide receiver Joshua Allensworth on an 11-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 18-3 early in the period. Lobos kicker Bradford Pettus added three field goals — from 43 and 35 yards — to push the advantage further. A long 43-yard touchdown catch by Joshua Jett capped off the scoring before halftime, followed by a successful two-point conversion run by Downtown Jameson, making it 29-3 at the break.

Rushing also played a key role in the Lobos’ offensive effectiveness. Running backs James King and Long Pete combined for over 70 yards rushing, with King contributing a 4-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and Long Pete scoring on an 11-yard rush.

Defensively, the Lobos limited the Cowboys to just 146 passing yards and 11 rushing yards total. The Cowboys’ quarterback Clarence Hernandez was intercepted four times, including a critical pick by linebacker Matthew Miller in the second quarter and two more interceptions in the third quarter by Jacob Samuels and Robbie Henshaw, both of which set up Lobos’ scoring drives.

The Cowboys had only one field goal on the day and were held scoreless in the second half. Lobos' defense recorded one sack and an interception, while the special teams unit contributed with solid punting and coverage to maintain field position advantages.

Penalties were minimal for both teams, with the Lobos committing 2 penalties for 20 yards and the Cowboys 3 for 25 yards.

The Lobos’ dominant performance sets an early tone for their season, placing them atop the division standings after week one. Coach Ivory Roberts’ squad showcased offensive balance, strong defense, and efficiency in scoring opportunities. The Cowboys will look to regroup as they start 0-1 heading into their next matchup.

With this victory, the Lobos have fired a warning shot to the rest of the division that they intend to compete at a high level in 1998. Their balanced attack and opportunistic defense will be key going forward.