Turnovers, a total of four for the game, did little to help the Patriot offense.
"I felt like turnovers really hurt us too," Settles said. "Our kids played hard but, unfortunately, we made too many mistakes and that resulted in big plays for Southwestern."
An example of the "mistakes" and "big plays" occurred with 3-1/2 minutes to play in the half. One play after forcing a Southwestern punt, Lincoln's Austin Hinds was intercepted by Dustin Powell at the Southwestern 33. Three plays later, Mote broke for the 60-yard score to put the Warriors up 18-7.
Southwestern got the ball back after a Lincoln punt and needed just two plays before Turpin hit Alan Williams for a 70-yard scoring strike. The John Floyd conversion run made it a 26-7 margin.
"That was a 14-point swing. I felt like we had some momentum driving the football," said Settles. "We turned the ball over with the interception and gave up the big play. That was a good job by Southwestern, executing quickly in a sudden-change situation."
Southwestern (4-2, 1-0 district) had 329 yards total offense in Friday's district opener, rushing for 217 yards on 45 plays.
Lincoln (1-4, 0-1 district) managed just 121 yards total offense, rushing for 70 yards on 30 carries.
"We knew that we were going to have a tough time with their size and speed up front," Settles said of Southwestern. "I feel like our kids played hard but, at the same time, you've got to be able to execute and not make the mental errors."
Illness hit the Patriot football team over the last week. Several players missed school and practices and some were sidelined for the game. Among those affected were Matt Carrier and Austin Hinds, who led the Pat offense against Washington County. Both were able to suit up Friday but Carrier, who rushed for 208 yards and two touchdowns last week, was held to minus-3 yards while Hinds, who had 89 yards rushing and a TD against Washington, picked up 52 yards rushing and threw for one score.
Hinds connected for the TD with 2:18 to go in the first quarter, hitting Ryan West for a 10-yard scoring pass which gave Lincoln a 7-6 lead.
Hinds had five completions in the game along with three interceptions.
"Austin has a passion for the game. He's just got a lot to learn and he'll get better," said Settles. "He's throwing the ball better, in my opinion, even though he threw the three interceptions tonight."
Mote answered the Hinds-West TD connection with a 6-yard run on the second play of the second quarter. Mote scored his fourth TD of the night, a 4-yard run, in the third quarter.
Before Mote scored his first touchdown, a 4-yard run to open the game scoring, Lincoln almost lost its coach to an ejection. When a Lincoln fumble was ruled to be in Southwestern's possession, Settles ran out on the field to question the ruling. The hasty move resulted in two flags thrown. Fortunately, for Settles, the flags were waved off.
"It's kind of embarrassing after I thought about what I did in the first quarter. But I was so frustrated with that call," Settles said. "I mean, our guy was on top of the ball and they give the ball to the other team."
Two plays after the turnover at the Lincoln 12-yard line, Mote crossed the goal line from the 4.
Williams, who was on the receiving end of all three Turpin completions for Southwestern, scored on a 28 yard pass to end the night's scoring in the fourth.
