The Bermuda Bowl will never be the same.

Moments after the trophy was presented to exuberant seniors from the victorious Davidson (North Carolina) side, the bowl-shaped top was separated from its cedar base, not unlike the way the Wildcats broke the spirits of the University of the South (Sewanee, Tennessee) Tigers.

The Wildcats, known primarily for their strong defensive play this season, also showed how capable they are of scoring points, erupting for 22 in the second half to defeat the Tigers 28-14 in Bermuda Bowl II at National Stadium on Saturday.

More importantly, Sewanee could not plug the Leak -- as in five-foot-11, 210-pound tailback Chris Leak -- and the deluge translated into their eighth loss in nine games this season. For the Wildcats, it was only their third win in 10 attempts but their second consecutive offensive outburst.

The 42 total points scored was the most of the two US college games staged on the Island (Georgetown defeated Washington and Lee 17-14 in Bermuda Bowl I), but after the first half, with Davidson holding a tenuous 6-0 advantage, spectators were left wondering if the game was going to be strictly a showcase for defence.

Davidson came into the match surrendering only 13 points in their previous two games while Sewanee had relinquished a mere 17 points in a loss to Trinity on November 5.

But it was Leak -- playing in his final college match -- who sparked the Wildcats, accumulating 235 yards rushing on 31 carries, the first time in his career he gained more than 100. His ball carrying heroics accounted for virtually all of the Davidson ground game, although quarterback Kevin Holzworth, also playing in his last game, completed 15 of 28 passes (he was intercepted once) for 224 yards. Holzworth also carried the ball seven times for 58 yards.

Leak's thrilling 71-yard touchdown gallop late in the fourth quarter, followed by a successful Sean Callahan kick, gave Davidson a 28-7 lead and earned roaring approval from spectators, making it all but impossible for Sewanee, playing against the wind, to stage a comeback.

A native of Statesville, North Carolina, Leak bore down on hapless Sewanee defenders.

As he stood with joyous team-mates at mid-field following the match, with Wildcat players proudly singing their team song, Leak, knowing the curtain had fallen on his football career, was intensely emotional.

"This was my last game,'' he said matter-of-factly, wiping his eyes with fingers taped with gauze. "I mean, these players have been like family. Yeah, there was a big lump in my throat.'' Strapping Davidson fullback Bruce Bannister provided the only first half fireworks when he snared a seven-yard toss from Holzworth in the second quarter to give the Wildcats a lead they would never give up.

Bannister, however, the all-time rushing leader in Davidson history, was a clear target for Sewanee's mammoth defensive line and was only able to carry the ball six times for eight yards. He finished his impressive career with 1,552 yards and 367 touchdowns.

Wide receiver Ike Bailey caught a 50-yard pass from Holzworth early in the third period and when cornerback Ty Crovetti was successful on the two-point gamble and Davidson was ahead 14-0.

That's when it seemed certain the North Carolina school -- undoubtedly better than their pre-Bermuda Bowl record indicated -- could do no wrong.

Several minutes later sophomore Dan Jonas caught Holzworth's five-yard pass for another TD and Davidson's pretty cheerleaders were waving their pompons in a frenzy. The successful convert by Callahan put Wildcats ahead 21-0 to start the fourth quarter.

University of the South finally got on the board when receiver David Donahue, a freshman, carried the ball one yard for the touchdown. Donahue was Sewanee's leading rusher, accounting for 91 yards on 22 carries. First-year quarterback John Stroup was largely ineffective, completing 16 of 34 passes for 165 yards, and recorded a net loss of 13 yards on four carries.

Brad Mall scored late in the period to give Sewanee its second touchdown of the day (Ward Cole was successful on both converts).

But before Mall's two-yard dash, Leak, who was later mobbed by autograph seekers, scored his TD to seal Davidson's triumph.

"Today I think we just felt confident,'' said Leak, a history major. "I tried to give my team-mates confidence. We can move the ball, we've done it in other games.

"This was a game for the seniors, it was a pride game. It was a hard season but you want to go out on a right foot.'' "You couldn't write a better script to end the season,'' said Davidson head coach Tim Landis, holding his son TJ. "We're a good football team but we've just had some tough luck. But sending 12 seniors out this way, coming to Bermuda and winning the football game, well, this will get our young guys believing in the future.'' Landis, finishing his second year as Wildcat head coach, praised his opponents for never giving up.

"They kept fighting back, I'll tell you. It wasn't over until the very end.

It was probably the best 60 minutes of play we've had on offence and defence.'' For Sewanee's first year coach Alan Logan, the Bermuda experience was a bittersweet way to end a frustrating year.

"We've come to a great place to play and still have a gut feeling that we didn't get some things accomplished,'' said Logan, who watched sadly as the ball spiralled down slowly during the game's last play, more gracefully than his team's plunging fortunes.

Time had finally run out.

"This was a great experience and I think it's something that we can use for recruiting. But, more importantly, this is something these guys are going to carry with them forever. I'm sure as time goes by the losses won't hurt them as much as they think, but the Bermuda experience is something they'll always have in the back of their minds.'' LOCKING HORNS -- Jeff Hagler of the Wildcats and Alex Hartz of Sewanee clash at mid-field on Saturday.

CALL OF THE WILDCATS -- Davidson quarterback Kevin Holzworth (5) gets all the protection he needs from offensive linemen Tommy Wheeler (50) and Mike Lassiter (76).