In a defensive and special teams-driven preseason showdown, the Lobos edged the New Orleans Steamers 19-11 under the strategic eye of head coach Ivory Roberts. The game showcased a fascinating battle in scheme adjustments, execution, and situational football that gave El Paso an early upper hand in the 1998 campaign.

The Steamers opened the scoring early with a 50-yard field goal by John Butler following a penalty that reversed a missed 55-yard attempt. Butler’s leg proved reliable, converting all three of his field goal attempts despite the unit’s inability to move the ball into the red zone for touchdowns. Early penalties, including an offsides call by Robert Johnson that helped the Steamers get their first points, highlighted some discipline issues that hampered their drives.

Coach Roberts’ Lobos responded with a balanced attack carefully scripted to keep the New Orleans defense guessing. Quarterback Josef Smith’s 21 completions for 202 yards and two touchdowns were the result of deliberate mixings between zone and man-beater concepts targeting Richard Harris and Downtown Jameson, both of whom significantly impacted the game with yards after catch and a rushing touchdown respectively. Harris, with 91 receiving yards and a rushing touchdown, exploited mismatches against the Steamers’ secondary, revealing effective route combinations and protection schemes designed to buy Smith time across face coverage.

Rushing was also a pivotal part of the Lobos’ game plan. The ground attack gained 132 yards on 35 carries, led in large part by Jameson’s 20 yards and a touchdown run. The offensive line executed well in run blocking, a stark contrast to the Steamers’ front seven who managed just 66 total rushing yards despite heavy pursuit and a solid showing by LDE Paul Cherry, who had two sacks.

Defensively, the Lobos limited the Steamers to 106 total passing yards on 11 completions and forced a crucial turnover through a forced fumble recovered by Allensworth after a Kelvin Friedlander run was mishandled. On the other side, the Steamers showed promise in pass rush with five sacks but failed to produce points beyond the field goal range, facing stout resistance near the red zone.

Special teams also played a defining role. Lobos’ kicker Bradford Pettus nailed the only field goal of the game for his team, a 21-yarder that kept the Lobos competitive in the early going. Both teams featured several long punts executed by their special teams units, frequently pinned deep to control field position. Sylvester Brown's precise directional punting, which repeatedly allowed fair catches at advantageous field spots, demonstrated a disciplined strategy to limit returns and manage game tempo.

Coach Roberts' in-game adjustments, particularly in second-quarter execution and clock management, shifted momentum momentum decisively after the Lobos’ touchdown pass from Smith to Harris and a successful two-point conversion rushed in by Long Pete. The Lobos' ability to capitalize on key moments, including a critical forced fumble and timely passing sequences, was a testament to the coaching staff’s attention to detail and disciplined execution under preseason pressure.

Though both teams struggled on third downs — neither converting any attempts — the Lobos’ ability to penetrate the Steamers’ defense in crucial situations and minimize mistakes set the tone. The Lobos only committed two penalties for 10 yards, a stark contrast to the Steamers’ six penalties that cost them 37 yards and stalled offensive momentum.

Overall, this game was a promising indicator of Ivory Roberts' capability to leverage scheme flexibility and manage tactical matchups effectively, aspects that bode well for the Lobos’ upcoming regular season. The Lobos’ capacity for disruption on defense, complemented by calculated offensive aggression, proved the difference against Andrew Schutte’s Steamers in a tightly contested preseason battle.