By Wesley Evans

BUENA VISTA, Va.—Behind 222 yards through the air and four touchdown passes from quarterback Mitch Stevenson, the Southern Virginia University football team defeated The College of New Jersey, 28-21, for its first win of the 2014 season and first New Jersey Athletic Conference victory in program history Saturday afternoon at The Fields.

With the win, Southern Virginia (1-8, 1-5 NJAC) not only avenges a 7-2 loss from last year to the Lions, but also gives first-year head coach Jason Walker his first victory at the helm of the football program. The victory is also a first for the program at The Fields.

"What we've learned all year long is that the turnover battle makes the difference in the game, and winning that battle today resulted in our first win," Walker said. "We took care of the ball on offense and we took it away from them on defense. We weren't complete in all facets but we made plays when we needed them and earned a much needed victory."

The game got off to a slow start as neither team was able to do much through the first 10 minutes. The College of New Jersey (2-7, 1-5 NJAC) struck first when, with nearly five minutes left in the first quarter, Knight receiver Kyler Harris muffed a Lion punt on the Southern Virginia three yard line. The ball bounced into the end zone and was recovered by the visitors, giving the Lions a 7-0 lead.

In the second quarter, Southern Virginia was able to find the scoreboard as Stevenson found senior captain Chris Harper for a 17-yard touchdown pass over the middle of the field on third and long. A failed two-point conversion left TCNJ holding a 7-6 advantage.

The Lions scored again off a 36-yard pass from quarterback Trevor Osler to Jeff Mattonelli, but Southern Virginia responded quickly as Stevenson found Harris for another touchdown pass—this time for 13 yards—with just 1:50 left in the first half, sending the Knights into the locker room with a slight 14-13 deficit.

The Knights gained their first lead of the game on their first possession of the third quarter as kicker Kieren Phelps nailed a 31-yard field goal through the uprights, handing Southern Virginia a 16-14 lead with 11 minutes left in the third.

The lead would not hold long as The College of New Jersey would score off its first possession of the second half when Khani Glover gained a one-yard touchdown run.

On the home team's next possession, the Knights marched 58 yards down field with Stevenson finding Michael Goering over the middle for a 20-yard touchdown pass—Stevenson's third touchdown pass of the day—putting Southern Virginia on top again with a 22-21 advantage.

Southern Virginia's defense came through clutch in the final quarter, as defensive back Matthew Gregory intercepted an Osler pass on the first play from scrimmage at the visitors' 25-yard line. Gregory would return the interception for a pick-six, but an illegal block in the back penalty on the Knights brought the ball back to the Lions 35-yard line.

The penalty did not phase Southern Virginia as Stevenson found Harris again, just three plays later for a 31-yard touchdown pass, putting the Knights on top 28-21 after a failed extra-point attempt.

A stingy Southern Virginia defense forced two College of New Jersey turnovers on as many possessions, when Uitalafi Faumuina recovered a Lion fumble and linebacker Robert Robbins intercepted a Dylan Cotrell pass at the 10:34 mark.

The College of New Jersey was unable to find the scoreboard the rest of the way as the Knight defense did not let the visitors get past the 50-yard line, securing the win for Southern Virginia.

Harris finished with 96 yards receiving and seven receptions on the day to lead all receivers, while Jamal Coates led the rushing attack with 74 yards on 18 attempts.

Punter Mackey Smith helped the Southern Virginia defense immensely as he put four punts inside the Lion 20-yard line.

Robbins and Gregory finished with 10 tackles each on the defensive end of the ball to go along with their interceptions.

Osler ended with 176 yards passing (16-27) and one touchdown for The College of New Jersey.

Football is back in action next Saturday for its final game of the 2014 season as it hosts William Paterson University at The Fields in Buena Vista, Virginia. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m.