JournalStar.com

Lincoln Southwest holds off host Norfolk

By the Lincoln Journal Star
Friday, Oct 03, 2008 - 10:49:49 pm CDT
Lincoln Southwest stayed unbeaten in district play, converting on fourth down to maintain possession and driving for the clinching touchdown in a 40-28 win at Norfolk’s Memorial Field on Friday.

The Silver Hawks (4-2, 2-0) never trailed in the game, but Southwest repeatedly had to answer Norfolk comeback attempts.

The Panthers (2-4, 1-1) pulled within 33-28 on Tyson McGill’s TD run midway through the fourth quarter.

“We didn’t punt all night, so that was a positive, but Norfolk really made us have to work,” said Southwest coach Mark King. “I thought, offensively, we did a nice job other than the two times we had the ball inside the 20 and didn’t score in the first half.

“And the second half, we played a lot better defense.”

Quarterback Rylan Cotton rushed for 148 yards and threw for 209 yards on just six completions.

Cotton’s 65-yard pass to Ethan Tompkins capped the game-clinching drive for Southwest with less than three minutes to play.

Cotton also hit Dylan Heath with an 80-yard strike in the first quarter, and the junior scored on 62- and 25-yard runs.

Norfolk quarterback Lance Lawson had a big game as well, running for 128 yards and three TDs and passing for another 147 yards.

The Silver Hawks outgained Norfolk 483-398.