Junior wide receiver Earl Bennett caught eight passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns as Vanderbilt leads Richmond 21-10 after two quarters in front of a crowd of 32,215.

The Commodores took a 7-3 lead on a four-yard touchdown run from junior Jeff Jennings, who returns from a knee injury that forced him to sit out the entire 2006 season.

Vanderbilt extended its lead to 14-3 when quarterback Chris Nickson connected with Bennett for a 15-yard touchdown. Nickson finished the half 10-for-12 for 118 yards and two touchdowns.

The Spiders cut the lead to four on a 11-yard touchdown run from Tim Hightower, but the Commodores responded with an effective two-minute drill culminating in a one-yard touchdown pass to Bennett off of a play-action.

Defensively, Vanderbilt struggled as Richmond ran for 68 yards on 15 carriers and passed for 133 yards.