PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas — Southern fans and players collectively exhaled.

The relief and exuberance didn’t start once the game clock showed zeroes as both teams walked across the field after the Jaguars’ 28-14 win over Prairie View Saturday at Panther Stadium.

The jubilation began when star defender Herman Brister sealed the win with an interception returned 46 yards for a touchdown with 51 seconds remaining, his first career pick-six and second interception of the day.

The feeling of Southern (3-4, 1-2 SWAC) upsetting the defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champions led to wide receiver Damien “Bam” Henderson celebrating the success of Brister, sprinting down the sidelines, more than he did his own breakout performance of two catches for 115 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

Players jumped for joy, hugged each other and their coaches and even found pockets to tell media members within earshot, “You didn’t believe in us,” as they scampered off the field.

Brister, who bounced back and forth between linebacker and his true position of safety throughout the contest, was thrilled to help clinch the victory and pleased to help Marshall Faulk earn his first Division I win of his coaching career.

“It means a lot, not only to us but to coach Faulk,” said Brister, who also had 10 tackles. “I’m happy we got this win for him, and we can build on it.”

When Faulk was asked how critical this win over Prairie View (2-5, 2-2) was for his team’s psyche, he said it was “huge.”

“I don’t want to sugarcoat it like any win is good, but a win in conference is a big win. And to come on the road through all the adversity that we’ve been dealing with, this is great.”

Starting quarterback Christian Johnson agreed on how significant the impact of this performance against a quality foe who was just as motivated after losing unexpectedly last week to Mississippi Valley State.

“It’s a major confidence booster for us,” said the redshirt junior who completed 9 of 22 passes for 207 yards, two touchdowns with no turnovers. “Let’s these guys know that we can actually do it if we just stay down, stay true to what we’re being coached to do. And do it at a high level.”

Faulk said he’s preached to this team that executing plans with the requisite high energy needed will breed success. Saturday’s result was proof of concept, and an example of that working was on special teams.

Last week against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Southern allowed three kickoff returns for 167 yards (55.7-yard average). Prairie View, who entered the game leading the SWAC in kickoff return average at 39.5 yards, had four kickoff returns for only 21 yards.

“Better effort. Obviously, still some hiccups in the kicking game, but you know that’s going to happen as we grow in that department. But much better from our coverage teams. You’re going to have some things that happen that you don’t like, kicking the ball out of bounds and stuff like that. But I like the effort that our kickoff team went down with our punt team and how we covered as well and how we punted the ball at times.”

Southern will travel back to Baton Rouge with heads held higher than it has at any point this season. What is also understood is that this confidence-building result is only one win. The Jaguars have aspirations that will require more nights like Saturday.

“Felt cool, but I know like this ain’t the end of it though, Henderson said. “We got way more to do, way more to come.”