Joke Is on Baylor When Rice Wins, 20-17 : Southwest: Bears stumble offensively, and Richardson’s field goal knocks them from ranks of unbeaten.

Rice Coach Fred Goldsmith called his team’s victory over previously unbeaten and No. 8-ranked Baylor the biggest for the Owls in three decades.

However, Baylor Coach Grant Teaff was almost at a loss for words after Saturday’s 20-17 upset in a Southwest Conference game.

“This is definitely the biggest win in our program since the early 1960s,” Goldsmith said. “It was a total win--offensive, defensive, the kicking game.”

Rice, 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference, dropped Baylor to 5-1, 1-1.

Teaff said he was “mystified” by the Bears’ Jeff Ireland missing three second-half field goals. Rice kicker Darrell Richardson won the game with a 33-yard field goal with 2:39 to play. Ireland missed from 43, 45 and 27 yards.

Baylor rolled up 531 yards--187 yards more than Rice.

“I was frustrated. Our coaches were beside themselves,” Teaff said.

Baylor drove deep into Rice territory twice in the first half without scoring. John Henry lost a fumble at the Rice 26, and Robert Strait fumbled at the 23.

Ironically, Ireland had kicked a career-best 58-yard field goal as the half ended, narrowing Rice’s lead to 17-10 and appearing to give Baylor the momentum.

“We ain’t no joke,” Rice wide receiver Eric Henley said. “Baylor took us lightly today. . . . People have to take us seriously or we’re going to win.”

Henry had a 64-yard scoring run only 3:02 into the third quarter, tying the score, 17-17. Baylor, 10th in the nation in total offense, then drove against one of the smallest lines in major college football to the Rice 18, 22 and nine, but each drive ended in missed field-goal attempts by Ireland.

After the last wide kick, freshman backup quarterback Josh LaRocca guided Rice from its 20 to the Baylor 13, and Richardson kicked the winning goal against a 10 m.p.h. wind.

A 13-yard run by holder Chris Miller to the Baylor 18 on a fake field goal kept the drive alive.

After the kickoff, Baylor moved to its 41, but Strait was stopped for no gain on fourth and one by defensive end Shawn Alberding.

Rice led at halftime, 17-10, behind the running of Trevor Cobb, the nation’s leading rusher, as well as key pass receptions by Greg Willig and a defense that covered two Baylor fumbles.

Cobb scored on a 12-yard run with 3:33 left in the first quarter and finished the half with 132 yards in 18 carries. He had 171 yards rushing for the game, about eight yards short of his average.