THIBODAUX - Nicholls State rushed for 331 yards and hung on for a hard-fought 14-10 victory over Southeastern Louisiana in the Southland Conference opener for both teams Saturday night in John L. Guidry Stadium.

Nicholls State (2-3, 1-0 SLC) held Southeastern (1-5, 0-1 SLC) to 287 total yards to retain the River Bell trophy, which is awarded to the winner of the game between the two league rivals who are separated by only 79 miles. The Colonels have had the trophy since 1981 and have won the last seven meetings between the two teams.

The Colonels used a balanced attack featuring fullback Broderick Cole (15 carries, 101 yards), quarterback Vincent Montgomery (13-96) and halfback Michael McLendon (9-76) to roll to the victory.

Junior running back Mario Gilbert led the Lions with 97 yards on 17 rushes including a 22-yard burst over the left side to give Southeastern an early 10-7 lead midway through the second quarter. True freshman Crawford Kilpatrick was the top receiver for Southeastern, finishing with six catches for 46 yards.

The Lions went into halftime with the 10-7 lead, but a late third quarter McLendon touchdown run gave the Colonels a four point spread, 14-10, which they would not relinquish. Southeastern had several chances down the stretch including a good opportunity on its final drive, but fell just short.

Down 14-10, true freshman quarterback Bradd Schlosser came in to relieve Southeastern starting quarterback Seth Babin and led Southeastern on a last-ditch drive in the fourth quarter. Schlosser drove the Lions from their own five-yard line to the Nicholls 23, but the Colonels would not break. Schlosser threw three straight incompletions - including overshooting wide open receiver Merrick Lanaux in the endzone - to turn the ball over on downs. The Colonels were able to run the clock out - after a face mask penalty on Southeastern turned a third down stop into first down yardage -- to preserve the victory.

Nicholls took the lead late in the third quarter. A 29-yard run by Montgomery, followed by a 23-yard sprint by McLendon set up a first and goal from the Southeastern five-yard line. Two plays later, McLendon powered in for a three-yard score to put the Colonels up, 14-10, with 3:52 left in the third quarter.

Nicholls State had a chance to add to the lead at the end of the third quarter, driving down to the Southeastern 11. But Romaliz Mayo and Ernest Wilkes stopped McLendon short on a fourth-and-one to stop the drive.

Perhaps the turning play of the game for the Colonels came on the opening kickoff of the second half. Junior returner Keylam Davis opened the half with a 94-yard kickoff return for a score and what would have been a 17-7 Southeastern lead. However, Southeastern was penalized for a sideline infraction, nullifying the score. Southeastern took the drive down to the Nicholls State 23, but Jeff Turner was unable to connect on a 40-yard field goal attempt.

Nicholls took the game's opening kickoff and marched it 78 yards on nine plays, capped by a Cole two-yard run up the middle to give the Colonels a 7-0 lead.

After the opening drive, the Lions defense forced Nicholls State two turnovers in the second quarter to take the lead. After both teams had drives stall, Southeastern cut into the early Nicholls advantage early in the period. A 19-yard run by Kendrick Perry set up Turner's 25-yard field goal that pulled Southeastern within four, 7-3, on the second play of the period. Turner's strike came after a 12-play, 52-yard drive lasting 5:13.

On the ensuing drive, Nicholls reserve quarterback Chris Bunch fumbled the snap, which Southeastern safety Keithshone Dantzler recovered at the NSU 22. The Lions took advantage on the first play, as Gilbert broke two tackles on a run around the left end bursting into the end zone to put Southeastern up, 10-7.

Dantzler came up with his second fumble recovery of the quarter midway through the period. Nicholls State fullback Cal Jones could not handle the pitch from Montgomery and Southeastern recovered at the Lions' 47. The Lions could not capitalize as Dominique Sykes intercepted a Babin pass at the Nicholls 15.

Neither offense could get anything accomplished offensively the remainder of the half and the Lions went into the locker room with a 10-7 edge.

The Lions will return home next Saturday to host Southland Conference rival Northwestern State in the 2006 Hall of Fame Game. Former Southeastern athletes Macky Waguespack(baseball), Becca Weingartner-Stone (women's soccer) and David Bennett (track and field) will be this year's inductees in the Southeastern Hall of Fame. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium.

Southeastern La..... 0 10 0 0 - 10 Record: (1-5,0-1)
Nicholls State............ 7 0 7 0 - 14 Record: (2-3,1-0)

Scoring Summary:
1st Quarter
NICH - Cole 2 run (Romero kick), 11:21
2nd Quarter
SLU - FG Turner 24, 14:53
SLU - Gilbert 22 run (Turner kick), 13:55
3rd Quarter
NICH - McLendon 3 run (Romero kick), 3:52

SLU NICH
FIRST DOWNS................... 17 18
RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............ 33-169 49-331
PASSING YDS (NET)............. 118 18
Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 32-17-1 7-3-0
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS..... 65-287 56-349
Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0 0-0
Punt Returns-Yards............ 2-1 2-34
Kickoff Returns-Yards......... 3-60 3-54
Interception Returns-Yards.... 0-0 1-0
Punts (Number-Avg)............ 5-42.0 5-40.6
Fumbles-Lost.................. 0-0 4-2
Penalties-Yards............... 5-40 9-65
Possession Time............... 31:43 28:17
Third-Down Conversions........ 7 of 16 2 of 10
Fourth-Down Conversions....... 0 of 1 0 of 1
Red-Zone Scores-Chances....... 1-1 2-3
Sacks By: Number-Yards........ 1-7 1-1

RUSHING
SLU - Gilbert 17-97; Lucas 7-35; Perry 5-27; Babin 2-6; Schlosser 2-4. NSU - Cole 15-101; Montgomery 13-96; McLendon 9-76; Morgan 2-36; Jones 9-21; Bunch 1-1.

PASSING
SLU-Babin 11-21-1-63; Schlosser 6-11-0-55. NSU - Montgomery 3-7-0-18.

RECEIVING
SLU - Kilpatrick 6-46; Ross 4-24; Lanaux 3-29; Davis 3-17; Gilbert 1-2. NSU - Gordon 2-19; Okoronkwo 1-minus 1.