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Nickson helps Vanderbilt roll over I-AA Tennessee St

Sep 24, 2006 - 4:42 AM NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Vanderbilt finally has its first victory since the departure of Jay Cutler.

Chris Nickson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another score as the Commodores pulled away from Division I-AA Tennessee State, 38-9.

Nickson completed 9-of-13 passes for 108 yards and an interception for Vanderbilt (1-3), which has struggled this season since record-setting quarterback Cutler went off to the NFL's Denver Broncos.

Nickson gave the Commodores the lead for good with a five-yard TD toss to Marlon White that opened the scoring with 1:11 left in the first quarter.

Vanderbilt's lead was just 10-3 with less than two minutes to go in the third quarter when Tigers quarterback Antonio Heffner threw a pass from his own end zone that Marcus Buggs intercepted for a touchdown.

A fumble on the ensuing kickoff led to a six-yard TD run by Nickson for a 24-3 lead. After an interception by Reshard Langford, Nickson threw a 33-yard TD to Earl Bennett for a 31-3 cushion just 40 seconds into the final period.

Heffner went 10-of-21 for 159 yards, a TD and two interceptions for the Tigers (2-2).