Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Turns out you can win when you can’t hold on to the football.

Three first-half turnovers Friday resulted in 17 points for Lincoln-Way North and a 17-point halftime deficit for Lincoln-Way West. But a solid second-half defensive effort and 28 unanswered points led to West’s 35-24 win that shook up the top of the Southwest Suburban Red, dropping previously unbeaten North into a three-way tie with West and Bradley-Bourbonnais.

“That defense, they’re a big part of this team,” said senior receiver Chase Starcevich, who had nine catches for 107 yards. “They’ve had ups and downs, but they come back stronger and stronger each week.” It’s determination. We have this fight in us. That’s the whole team together. You can’t turn the ball over like we did early, but we never give up. That’s the big aspect of this family.”

The Warriors scored four fourth-quarter touchdowns, beginning with Gabe Montalvo’s 1-yard plunge on the first play to close to within 24-14.

Quarterback Connor Lowman hit Joe Shirley with a 17-yard touchdown pass after a Phoenix three-and-out. Montalvo’s 28-yard, tackle-breaking touchdown run with 2 minutes, 51 seconds remaining capped the comeback.

The Warriors (6-1, 4-1) put the game away when Nate Paniak scooped up a North fumble and returned it 55 yards for a score.

“We just swarm to the ball every play and have fun,” Paniak said. “We feel we can take over the game when we need to.”

North (6-1, 4-1) played most of the game without running back Jaylin Branch, who sustained an unknown injury in the first quarter. Branch staked North to a 7-0 lead on a 1-yard run, three plays after Dave Lux’s interception.

The host Warriors (6-1, 4-1) tied it minutes later when Lowman hit Shirley on a 20-yard out pattern. North immediately returned the favor, using a 43-yard Jake Hradek kickoff return to set the stage for a five-play, 52-yard scoring drive, with quarterback Ryan Arthur lofting a 4-yard toss to Kyle Ostrowski for a 14-7 lead late in the first.

Three plays later Lux recovered a stripped Ben Zordani 23-yard reception at midfield. Five plays later, it was Arthur-to-Ostrowski again, this time for 7 yards and a score. West moved to midfield, only to turn it over again. This time Jimmy Vallos recovered. An untimely holding call stalled a potential touchdown drive, but Niko Mavrogiannis boomed a 43-yard field goal to stake North to the 24-7 lead.

Player of the game: Gabe Montalvo, Lincoln-Way West, 26 carries, 131 yards, 2 TDs.

Key performers: Lincoln-Way West — Connor Lowman, 15-for-26, 212 yards, TD; Chase Starcevich, 9 catches, 107 yards. Lincoln-Way North — Ryan Arthur, 15-for-29, 189 yards, 2 TDs; Jake Hradek, 8 catches, 74 yards.