'Dores Open Season with 41-17 Win

COMMODORE POST-GAME COVERAGE
BennettSTAR OF THE GAME Two-time All-SEC wide receiver Earl Bennett collected 13 catches for a school-record 223 yards while scoring three touchdowns. His three TDs were the most since he scored five against Kentucky in 2005. The 223 receiving yards for the Birmingham, Ala., native was also the ninth-most in SEC history. “It was pretty impressive,” head coach Bobby Johnson said. “I don’t care who you are going against. I think we did a pretty good job of getting him the football. We had pretty good protection most of the time, but Earl is a pretty impressive player.” STAT OF THE GAME After being outgained 117-29 in total yardage in the first quarter, Vanderbilt totaled 417 yards through the final three quarters, while holding the Spiders to just 193 yards from that point on. STREAKING Quarterback Chris Nickson began the game by completing 9-of-9 pass attempts for 117 yards and one touchdown. He did not throw an incompletion until the 1:11 mark of the first half. Nickson went on to complete 19-of-26 passes for 284 yards and a career-best four-touchdown passes. SCORING SPREE The 41 points scored by the Commodores was the most in a season opener since scoring 47 against Middle Tennessee State in 1950. CHART CLIMBER With 13 catches for 223 yards, wide receiver Earl Bennett now needs just 35 catches and 848 yards to become the SEC’s all-time leader in career receptions and receiving yardage. DEFENSIVE STOP OF THE GAME Facing fourth and short on Vanderbilt’s 12-yard line with 12:27 to play in the second quarter, Richmond’s Tim Hightower was stopped short of the first-down marker by linebacker Jonathan Goff. “I was expecting a run and I was just able to get enough on him,” Goff said. “The defensive line did a great job from stopping their line from making any push.” RETURN SPECIALIST Sophomore cornerback D.J. Moore returned a kickoff for 63 yards and also had a dazzling interception return for 22 yards. The interception was also the second of his career.
STAT COMPARISON
1st Downs		19	18
Total Yards		446	310
Passing		284	162
Rushing		164	149
Penalties		4-29	6-41
3rd Down		7-13	3-11
4th Down		0-0	1-2
Turnovers		1	3
Possession		26:45	33:15

Sept. 1, 2007

Matthews’ Post-Game Column: The Power of Two

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Earl Bennett caught three touchdown passes to lead Vanderbilt to a season-opening 41-17 victory over Richmond on Saturday night.

The All-Southeastern Conference wide receiver, who began the season 48 catches away from becoming the league’s all-time career leader, finished with 13 receptions for a school-record 223 yards.

Vanderbilt won its season-opening game at home for the first time since 1997 and scored its most points in an opener since 1950.

Bennett helped the Commodores blow the game open on the first series of the second half, catching a 49-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chris Nickson to hand Vanderbilt a 28-10 lead.

Bennett was also a special-teams standout, returning punts for 36 and 25 yards.

Bennett caught two touchdown passes in the first half. The second came from the 1-yard line with 12 seconds remaining and gave the Commodores a 21-10 lead.

He also caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Nickson with 5:31 left in the second quarter, pushing Vanderbilt’s lead to 14-3.

In the first half, Bennett caught eight passes for 78 yards. His three touchdowns gave him 18 for his career, moving him into a tie for third place all-time at Vanderbilt.

Richmond went ahead 3-0 with 6:31 remaining in the first half on a 22-year field goal by Andrew Howard.

Vanderbilt answered when tailback Jeff Jennings scored on a 4-yard run, making it 7-3. The short drive was set up by a 63-year kickoff return by D.J. Moore.

Trailing 31-10 in the third quarter, the Spiders stayed close when Justin Rogers returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 31-17.

The Commodores responded when Nickson connected with tailback Jeff Jennings for a 3-yard touchdown pass, pushing the score to 38-17.