The two teams shared the same sideline, and only played in front of a handful of fans.

It wasn't quite The Game, but for about 40 Kirkland and Leverett House residents, the Intramural House Football Championship yesterday meant just as much.

Kirkland finished its season unscored upon, defeating defending champion Leverett, 8-0, at the Stadium.

"This game was everything that's fun about high school football, without the coaches, the Saturday morning films, the sprints, and the throwing up," Kirkland quarterback Sean Rockett said.

The 50-year house football tradition continued in front of about 20 spectators, as the two teams battled it out for the recently-discovered House football trophy. Leverett House Master John Dowling unearthed the trophy from the Leverett basement last year.

The game's only touchdown came in the second quarter, after Kirkland junior Glenn Richmond intercepted a Leverett pass near the 40-yard line and ran it up to the four. Rockett rolled out and hit junior running back David Riccardi for the touchdown.

"It was a really tough game," Leverett running back and linebacker Christopher Kiah said. "They were a lot more practiced than we were."

The first quarter was a defensive battle, with both teams failing to score despite an apparent Kirkland touchdown. Richard Renniger ran back a punt return into the Leverett endzone, but the score was nullified by a clipping penalty.

In the third quarter, the Kirkland offense recovered its own fumble and ran the ball to the Leverett five-yard line, but K-House was kept out of the endzone in the first of two Leverett goal-line stands.

Leverett struggled deep in its own territory during the waning moments of the fourth quarter. The Leverett quarterback dropped back to pass, and was pummered by the Kirkland defensive line for a safety.

The Leverett House team was "too cocky and flat," senior Leverett lineman Joseph Hughes said.

Kirkland House beat Quincy House in the semi-finals last week to qualify for the championship game, while Leverett ousted Cabot-North in its semifinal contest.