NEW ORLEANS — Grambling had to weather some first-half miscues Saturday to accomplish its goal, but then, that's the story of 2011 as a whole.

The Tigers (7-4, 6-3) built a 10-0 lead before fumbling the ball away three times and having a 45-yard field goal attempt blocked in the second quarter.

None of those or any other mishaps proved costly enough to spoil coach Doug Williams' return to the Bayou Classic or his team's sixth consecutive victory.

Grambling's 36-12 defeat of Southern (4-7, 4-5), its fourth straight in the series, completed a regular season turnaround from a 1-4 start (1-3 in conference play) to a berth in the SWAC championship game Dec. 10 in Birmingham, Ala.

"We had a couple big turnovers that hurt us, and we had an opportunity to score more points," the coach said. "But at the end of the day, we came back and played exceptionally well. We were able to run the football and throw the football, and that's what it's all about."

Awaiting the Tigers in that game will be Alabama A&M, a team that beat them 20-14 in September — a team with whom they relish the opportunity for a rematch.

"We've always taken it one game at a time," Williams said. "Today was one game, and we've got one game left, so we'll take that one when it comes."

But for now, GSU will cherish the moment and coming so far from such a shaky start.

"I don't know how many wins I have overall in my career, but this is a good feeling to go out with a win in the Bayou Classic," said senior linebacker Cliff Exama, who finished with seven tackles, 3.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks. "Last year, I didn't get a chance to play 'cause I was hurt, but this year I got my first interception of the season. It feels great."

Senior kicker Zoltan Riazzo opened the scoring with 53-yard field goal, and freshman quarterback D.J. Williams found senior receiver Mario Louis on a leaping 27-yard touchdown reception for the 10-0 lead before the team's first costly mistake.

A Southern recovered a muffed punt of GSU senior returner David Stuckman's face mask midway through the second quarter, and freshman quarterback J.P. Douglas found sophomore Lee Doss from 13 yards out to trim the gap to 10-6 as the Tigers blocked the extra point.

D.J. Williams and senior running back Kenneth Batiste also each fumble the ball during the quarter, but Grambling's defense managed to hold each time.

Exama and company held the Jaguars to -31 rushing yards and 174 total yards on offense.

"We just put in our minds we had to step up," he said. "If something good happens, keep playing. If something bad happens, just keep playing. We said all week, 'We've gotta finish. We can't come this far and not make it.'"

And the Tigers rolled from there.

Grambling outscored Southern, 26-6 in the second half.

D.J. Williams found Louis for another pair of touchdowns, including a one-handed effort, and senior defensive end Antonio Leonard sacked Jaguars reserve quarterback Dray Joseph for a safety in the third quarter.

Joseph hit junior tight end Mike Berry from five yards out, but it made little difference.

Riazzo added a 28-yard field goal and sophomore running back Dawrence Roberts capped a 195-yard night with a 32-yard score in the fourth.

Roberts' and Louis' performance pushed the duo past the 1,000-yard rushing and receiving marks, respectively, for the season.

D.J. Williams completed 11 of 17 passes for 174 yards with one interception and three touchdowns.

"Mario's my roommate on the road, so we always talk about the game plan and watch film all week together," the young quarterback said. "So if I see something, if we see something together, then he's gonna give me that luck, and we know what's gonna happen. We've just got a great chemistry."