Colonels 16, Owls 14

9/2/2007 12:48 AM

HOUSTON (AP) -A blocked punt that went through the end zone for a safety gave Nicholls State a 16-14 win over Rice on Saturday in the first game for new Owls coach David Bailiff.

Will Norris blocked a Luke Juist punt through the end zone midway through the fourth quarter for the game-winning safety for Nicholls State, a member of the Football Championship Subdivision, formerly known as Division I-AA.

The Colonels held Rice's offense to 218 yards and kept wide receiver Jarrett Dillard from scoring a touchdown for the first time in 16 games, a streak dating to 2005.

Rice quarterback Chase Clement completed 11-of-28 passes for 108 yards. He was sacked twice and intercepted three times, including one returned 32 yards for a touchdown by Ladarius Webb late in the second quarter.

The game was delayed twice by bad weather for a total of about two hours.

Bailiff, who spent the last three seasons at Texas State, replaced Todd Graham, who left in the offseason to take over Tulsa's program.