Balanced Ramblers collect second victory of season

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WINNETKA -- Saturday's game between North Shore Country Day and Mooseheart featured two teams looking to the 2009 season.

This season has been a major disappointment for both North Shore and Mooseheart. But the Ramblers, loaded with underclassmen, downed the Raiders 24-20 in Winnetka on Saturday.

The difference was the Ramblers' balance. Mooseheart coach Gary Urwiler's offense used two quarterbacks, four running backs and three receivers along with a defense that bent but didn't break.

North Shore's offense came almost exclusively from two players: quarterback Trey Surpless and running back David Thomas. Thomas scored two touchdowns and caught a 2-point conversion pass. Surpless scored the Raiders' other six points.

The Ramblers offense in the first half appeared lackluster; junior Jonell Crump was starting his first game under center. Senior Ethan Grasty eventually replaced Crump at that position.

"I wanted to see what Crump can do at the quarterback position," Urwiler said. "Perhaps I was looking ahead to next year. Jonell is a good athlete with a real strong arm."

Crump put Mooseheart (2-6) ahead 6-0 at 1:31 of the first quarter on a 2-yard run. The drive went 56 yards on nine plays.

On the final play of the first quarter, North Shore (0-8) tied the game at 6 when Thomas bolted through the Mooseheart defense on a 25-yard touchdown run.

The second quarter was a defensive struggle. Mooseheart kept the Raiders deep in their territory, setting up a safety when North Shore was penalized for holding in the end zone late in the first half.

The Ramblers' 8-6 lead didn't last long, however. With four seconds left in the first half, Thomas caught a 67-yard scoring pass from Surpless to give North Shore a 12-8 lead at halftime.

The second half belonged to Mooseheart freshman Isaiah Brigman, who set the tone by returning the kickoff 35 yards to the Raiders 47. Brigman then had a 19-yard carry, and two plays later hauled in a 16-yard pass from Crump to the North Shore 3. Crump put Mooseheart ahead to stay, 14-12, on a 1-yard plunge. Brigman added the first of his 2-point conversions to give Mooseheart a 16-12 lead.

Brigman set up Mooseheart's final touchdown in the final quarter with a 33-yard run to the Raiders 46. The 80-yard drive concluded when Crump passed 6 yards to Damion Moore for a score.

North Shore fought back late in the game when Surpless dived into the end zone on fourth-and-4 with 43 seconds left. But Mooseheart ran out the final seconds to snap its five-game losing streak.

"We were kind of waiting for Brigman to break loose," Urwiler said. "For a young freshman, Brigman has good vision and runs low to the ground. He was a big factor in this win for us."

Brigman finished with seven carries for 77 yards and one reception for 16 yards. Mooseheart compiled 170 yards rushing, and Crump and Grasty combined to complete nine of 12 passes for 119 yards. Prep Football: Mooseheart 24, North Shore Country Day 20