ORLANDO, Fla. -- Dray Joseph threw for 162 yards and a touchdown and Southern scored 21 fourth-quarter points for a 37-27 victory against Delaware State on Sunday in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge at the Florida Citrus Bowl.
The victory gave Southern coach Stump Mitchell a successful debut as Jaguars coach and the Southwestern Athletic Conference its second victory in the series with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Southern registered the other victory with a 2007 win over Florida A&M.
Joseph, a freshman, was pressed into his first start when Southern's Jermia McGinty was sideline with what the team called body cramps. Joseph accounted for two of the three Jaguars' fourth quarter scores as Southern erased a 27-16 deficit.
Joseph's 5-yard run cut to 27-23 with 7:59 remaining. Southern took a 30-27 lead with 4:43 left on Corey Cushingberry's 64-yard punt return.
Jason House's 23-yard interception set up Joseph's 4-yard TD toss to Rashuan Allen with 1:53 left.
Sylveste Nzekwe led the Jaguars with 98 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown.
Delaware State led 19-16 at halftime behind two long touchdowns by Larrone Moore. He scored on an 85-yard pass from Anthony Gluad and a 90-yard kickoff return.
Nick Elko's 38-yard pass to Justin Williams five minutes into the third quarter put Delaware State up 27-16.
Southern's defense took control after that, holding the Hornets without a first down on their next five possessions.
Gluad threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns for the Hornets.
