Statistically speaking, Ivory Roberts’ Lobos delivered a commanding performance against the Drive, shutting them out for three quarters before pulling away 31-6 at Drive's home field. The win not only extended the Lobos’ winning streak to four games but also clinched their division title with a 9-4 overall record and a 4-2 mark in the division.

Efficiency was the name of the game for El Paso’s squad, as they converted 17 of 24 pass attempts for 181 yards and paired it with a strong ground attack, rushing 35 times for 160 yards. The Lobos’ balanced offensive attack resulted in two touchdowns from the receiving corps and one rushing touchdown. Joshua Allensworth led the aerial charge with 48 receiving yards and a rushing touchdown, while tight end Joshua Rohr contributed 60 yards receiving. Running backs James King and Kelvin Friedlander were also standouts, with King rushing for 76 yards and 19 receiving yards combined, and Friedlander adding 46 rushing yards plus a receiving touchdown.

The Lobos struck early and often, scoring a touchdown on their second possession when quarterback Josef Smith connected with Allensworth for a 22-yard score just under the 11-minute mark in the first quarter. Bradford Pettus was flawless on kicking duties, converting all three of his point-after attempts and a 20-yard field goal in the second quarter to build an early 17-0 lead.

Defensively, the Lobos were formidable, recording three sacks and forcing one interception. Manny Ortega’s second-quarter interception halted the Drive's potential scoring threat and preserved the shutout through two full quarters. The Lobos' defense limited the Drive’s passing efficiency, holding them to 26 completions on 48 attempts for just 216 yards without a touchdown.

Conversely, the Drive, under coach Ricky Hodge, struggled to find offensive rhythm. Quarterback Keith Jordan threw for 216 yards but was intercepted once and failed to connect for any touchdowns. The Drive's limited success was hampered by ineffective third-down conversions and zero red-zone touchdown conversions, maintaining an unproductive offense on critical drives. Their ground game added only 33 yards on 15 carries, and penalties were minimal but inconsequential.

The Lobos’ dominance was underscored in special teams as well, with Sylvester Brown’s punting consistently flipping field position and limiting the Drive’s chances. Additionally, a pivotal moment came in the third quarter when the Drive's long field goal was quickly answered by an electrifying 107-yard kickoff return touchdown by Kelvin Friedlander, a momentum crusher that pushed the Lobos’ lead to 24-3.

This victory keeps the Lobos atop the division, with 294 points scored through 13 games – averaging over 22 points per game – and 177 points allowed. Their disciplined play and balanced attack signal a well-rounded team poised for a deep postseason run. Meanwhile, the Drive remain eliminated with a 3-10 record and are struggling to find answers on both sides of the ball.

Coach Ivory Roberts’ strategy of mixing efficient passing with a punishing running game coupled with opportunistic defense clearly paid dividends, further cementing El Paso as the division favorite heading into the final stretch of the 1998 season.