MONS, Belgium – SHAPE coach James Wassom could tell that Michael McGlothlin wasn’t always happy with his role during the season.

Yet when it mattered the most, the Spartans turned to their senior – and he delivered.

McGlothin cut into a hole on what was supposed to be a pitch for a touchdown with 2 minutes, 40 seconds remaining in the nine-man football championship game against Rota. Then, he scored the two-point conversation that proved to be the game-winner in 15-14 victory at SHAPE on Saturday afternoon.

The score was McGlothlin’s second of the game.

It was the type of performance the Spartans (7-1) expected from one of their most experienced players.

“He had his ups and downs throughout the season,” Wassom said of McGlothlin. “He was a resilient player. While he was unhappy with his role or how he was playing in a few games, he really, really stepped up in this last game.”

SHAPE was no stranger to fourth-quarter comebacks. The Spartans needed them in wins over Rota (5-3) and AFNORTH to end the regular season.

The Spartans’ perchance for handling adversity earned praise from their coach.

“We were able to create a very resilient, strong-minded team,” Wassom said.

Wassom credited McGlothlin for playing a key part in that mentality on Saturday.

SHAPE turned to Michael Mahoney at quarterback for the championship after his heroics in the fourth quarter against the Lions.

But with the weather taking its toll, Wassom said the team moved McGlothlin under center to give the offense a new dimension.

“There was a lot of hanging heads with us being down in the fourth quarter, with the weather getting bad, it seemed like things were stacked against us,” Wassom said. “Michael and a couple of our team leaders were able to inspire our players and remind them the game wasn’t over and we still had plenty of time to score.”

Donnell Evans carried the load for Rota. Called the team’s bell cow by coach Luke Spencer, the junior running back scored both touchdowns – one in the first quarter and the other in the third.

While the game ended in another close loss, Spencer praised his team’s ability to stay in games no matter the circumstances.

The Admirals lost three games by a combined nine points – by two to Aviano in the season opener, by six in overtime against SHAPE in the regular season and by one in the title game.

Spencer said his players should be proud of what they accomplished this season.

“I feel like every team has a bad game, and I don’t think that we’ve had that,” Spencer said. “If you look at the totality, we lose three games by nine points, and that’s incredible. That’s an unbelievable stat line.”