SAN MARCOS — Three times this season, the Lincoln High School defense gave up more than 50 points.

Friday, the Hornets gave up seven … and still lost — by a point — with big interceptions by San Marcos’ McIntyre brothers.

Senior Ezekiel, who is also San Marcos’ No. 1 receiver, killed Lincoln’s drive late in the third quarter with an interception.

But it was his sophomore brother Xzavier who put the cap on a 7-6 win that moves No. 8-ranked San Marcos to 4-1 on the season and drops Lincoln to 1-5 for the first time since 2013.

Trailing by a point with 31 seconds to play, Lincoln faced a fourth-and-17 at its own 37.

Hornets quarterback Andre Jackson scrambled out of the pocket and lofted a pass that, if it had been caught, would have been a first down.

But Xzavier McIntyre grabbed the ball at its high point in what he called “the biggest play I’ve ever made.”

“I was sitting back in coverage,” Xzavier said. “My job is to make sure no one got behind me.

“It’s not easy because you have a tendency to move up when you see the quarterback scramble. But I held my ground and made the play.”

But brother Ezekiel was proud.

“Hey, the McIntyre brothers got it done,” Ezekiel said. “The offense couldn’t score, so it was up to the defense to make some plays.

“A lot of people doubted San Marcos, but we’re 4-1 and beat a good Lincoln team. I don’t care what their record is, that’s a good Lincoln team.

“I couldn’t be prouder of my teammates, and my brother.”

San Marcos dominated the first half but only led 7-0 at the break.

The Knights took the opening kickoff and drove to the Lincoln 6-yard line, but a fourth-down pass in the end zone was incomplete.

San Marcos held Lincoln on downs, then drove 62 yards on 10 plays, scoring on a 12-yard pass from quarterback Jordan Roa to Ezekiel McIntyre.

A bad Lincoln snap that was recovered by San Marcos’ Oliver Vanderpool gave the Knights the ball on the Lincoln 30, but a 10-play drive ended with a missed 21-yard field goal.

Lincoln ran 22 first-half plays, gaining just 46 yards.

San Marcos had 27 first-half plays, picking up 140 yards.

Lincoln scored with 9:09 left in the game when Jackson hit Dareyen Bridges with a 16-yard scoring pass.

But Lincoln was called for a celebration penalty, pushing the PAT attempt back 15 yards. That basically made the PAT a 45-yard try, and it fell short by 2 yards.

Mo Henderson was the workhorse for San Marcos, carrying 29 times for 101 yards.

Roa completed 14 of 27 passes for 166 yards and a TD. Ezekiel McIntyre had five receptions for 39 yards and a TD.

Caleb Williams had 17 carries for 87 yards for Lincoln, but the Hornets threw for just 46 yards.