BEAVER DAM, WI - Entering the final quarter of its latest "most important" game, Mooseheart's football team carried a mere 14-12 lead on Wayland Academy.

What transpired in the next 12 minutes not only keyed an eventual 30-12 Mooseheart victory, but earned the Ramblers their fifth win of the season -- ensuring a winning season, and keeping the team's playoff drive alive.

The blistering final quarter also gave a final score that was much wider than the difference between the teams' play on the field. ``It really was a tough-fought game,`` Mooseheart coach Gary Urwiler said. ``It was really strategic. We tried to figure out field position.`` The 30 points mark the most Mooseheart has scored this season and Wayland's point total mean five of the Ramblers eight opponents have scored 14 points or less this season.

The fourth quarter turned numerous times, but Gabe Kendor was at the heart of much of the action. The senior gained 132 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns in the game. He also intercepted a passes and returned one it for a touchdown and had a kickoff return for a touchdown.

``Coming into this week, they were talking about No. 22 being 'the player,'`` Kendor said. ``So they had their attention on him. That made it easier for me to get in and do what I had to do.`` No. 22 is Floyd Mays, and he gained 50 yards on nine carries coming off a dominating Homecoming performance. That win over North Shore Country Day started a two-game victory run that has seen the Ramblers climb to 5-3. Six wins guarantees a playoff berth in IHSA football, and Mooseheart takes aim at postseason qualification when it hosts Kirkland Hiawatha on Friday.

``I've been with Chris Morones, Floyd (Mays) and Pedro (Gonzalez) for a long time now,`` Kendor said. ``We played sixth grade football together and this is our last chance to do something special.`` The fourth quarter surge began when Mooseheart pinned the Big Red at its own 9-yard line following a strong Morones punt.

With 3:02 left, Wayland Academy quarterback Scott Fitzgerald slipped and fell under pressure in his own end zone. The safety put Mooseheart ahead 16-12.

Kendor received the resulting free kick and ran 38 yards for a touchdown that suddenly left Mooseheart leading 23-12. Fitzgerald was intercepted by Kendor on Wayland's next possession - and Kendor rambled 54 yards for the final touchdown of the game.

``I preached it at halftime and I brought it up after the game - when you get opportunities, you've got to take advantage of them," Urwiler said.

Defensively, Mooseheart shut out the Big Red (3-4) in the second half and forced three turnovers in the process.

``We didn't make too many adjustments at halftime,`` Urwiler said. ``Andy Greenaway made a great catch for us when we needed it. Donald Niersbach made a nice play with an interception. Those are game-changers.`` ``Twenty-two of the 30 tackles we made in the first half were solo tackles, and that told me we weren't getting to the ball. With the offense they were running, we had to have more than one guy making the tackle.``

Mooseheart 6 8 0 16 - 30 Wayland 0 12 0 0 - 12 Scoring plays: M - Kendor 9 run (kick failed) W - Williams 6 run (run failed) M - Kendor 4 run (Morones pass to Moreno) W - Benavides 36 pass from Fitzgerald (run failed) M - Safety, Fitzgerald tackled in end zone M - Kendor 38 kickoff return (Niersbach kick) M - Kendor 54 interception return (Niersbach kick)