Commodores get Earl-y Win; Bennett Sets Receiving Records

By Michael O'Neill: SPM IN Writer
Posted Sunday, September 2, 2007

NASHVILLE, TN- Commodore wide receiver Earl Bennett set a single-game Vanderbilt receiving record with 223 yards on 13 catches, scoring three touchdowns as Vanderbilt romped in their season opener, beating the Richmond Spiders 41-17. The Heisman candidate added 62 return yards on two punts returns (he would down a third late in the game), giving him a total of 285 yards on the night. It was Bennett’s third 200-yard receiving game for the junior.

Bennett was all over the field, making catches for short gains, catching bombs for long yardage, and turning short passes into long gains. He made routine catches as well as fantastic ones, including a leaping grab in the third quarter that help set up Vanderbilt's fifth and final touchdown. Even though he was beating single coverage for most of the night, Richmond never applied pressure on him and rarely applied a double team, allowing Vanderbilt junior quarterback Chris Nickson to rely heavily on his ability to get open early and often.

While Bennett was the go-to guy all night, Nickson found other receivers, finishing the night with 284 yards, completing 19 of his 26 passes and throwing four touchdowns. Nickson came out on fire, completing his first nine passes for 117 yards. Vanderbilt’s offense tallied 446 yards from scrimmage, impressive in its own right, but even more so considering the great starting field position that Vanderbilt enjoyed for most of the night.

Vanderbilt’s game wasn’t perfect, though, as Richmond was able to gain 310 yards, 117 of those coming in the first quarter. Spider receiver Arman Shields was the biggest weapon for Richmond, catching 12 passes for 107 yards. Tim Hightower led the rushing attack with 73 yards on 14 carries, adding a touchdown.

That said, the Commodore defense had its shining moments, including 11 tackles by junior cornerback D.J. Moore. The Commodores' three interceptions on the night came from every part of the defense. On the first play of the game, senior LB Marcus Buggs hit Richmond quarterback Eric Ward as he threw, knocking the ball straight up into the air and back down into the hands of senior tackle Gabe Hall, who was tackled at the Richmond 24. Three plays later, junior kicker Bryant Hahnfeldt would miss a 30-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, Moore provided the second INT of the night, cutting off a pass near the far sideline, then twisting his way across the field en route to a 22-yard return, getting tackled at the Richmond 10, which led to a 23-yard Hahnfeldt field goal, his first of two on the night. The third interception, a leaping grab by captain and senior linebacker Jonathon Goff in Vanderbilt territory, led to Hahnfeldt’s second field goal (from 25 yards out) and the final score of the night for either team.

Vanderbilt now prepares for their first true test of the season – Saturday’s home game against Alabama and new head coach Nick Saban. While most will tune in to see if Saban stumbles out of the block in his first SEC game since leaving the Miami Dolphins, it gives Bennett and Vanderbilt as a team a chance to show what they are made of against a quality opponent, and on a national stage. Richmond will travel to Boston to face Northeastern next Saturday.