JACKSON – When Grambling State University took the field for its first offensive series against Jackson State here at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, lineman Andre Bennett was not at his customary right tackle spot.

Instead, the 6-foot-6, 350-pound former Vicksburg Gator was at right guard. Bennett felt right at home and the G-Men offense, which features one of the nation’s best passing attacks in Division I-AA, went about dismantling Jackson State.

Grambling quarterback Bruce Eugene threw for 479 yards and five touchdowns a 52-21 rout of the Tigers.

Bennett played guard for all of the first half as Grambling broke out to a 24-0 lead. In the second half, he moved back to tackle while his former Vicksburg High teammate Charles Wilson entered the game at left guard.

&#8220We had a player go down during the week in our guard, Tommy Dural, and I just had to make the transition to play guard,” Bennett said.

Grambling (5-1, 5-0 SWAC) had come into the contest wanting to run the ball more. Running backs Ab Kuuan and McCall’s Landry Carter had 67 yards between them at the half as the Tigers led 24-7.

But Grambling coach Melvin Spears and line coach Carl Roberts felt things could be better. The halftime adjustment had Wilson enter the game at left guard and Bennett move back to tackle.

&#8220One of our other linemen was messing up, so they brought Charles off the bench,” Bennett said.

&#8220A lot of our game plan calls for us to rotate guys in along the line,” Wilson. &#8220We just went with a different combination and continued to take it to them.”

Grambling went 77 yards in six plays on its second drive of the second half to go up 31-7, following Eugene’s 1-yard TD pass to Tim Abney.

Eugene tossed two more TD passes and then add a rushing touchdown to blow the game open at 52-14 early in the fourth quarter.

&#8220When Eugene is like this, we can’t be stopped,” Bennett said.

Wilson, a 310-pound senior guard, says he is rounding back into shape after losing his starting job in preseason practice.

&#8220I had a few let downs in practice but I’ve come around and I’ve been able to come in and play at left guard and really help give our offensive line a boost,” Wilson said.

Spears likes the progress of both of the former Gators and says that the plan in the second half of the season is to play Bennett more at guard.

&#8220Andre Bennett is going to be a guard in the NFL and we’re just trying to get him ready for that change,” Spears said. &#8220We’ve got another guy who can play at tackle. Andre is really better suited to play inside because that way he doesn’t have to deal with those little guys coming off the edge when he’s at tackle,” Spears said.

&#8220But all my Vicksburg guys are doing an excellent job. The two Raineys (Michael and Antonio) help us during the week and are getting it done in the classroom,” Spears said.

The Grambling-Vicksburg connection could continue to grow. Gators coach Alonzo Stevens brought a pair of prospects to the game, including standout defensive back Willis McGowan.