Bark matches bite
No. 2 Bulldogs growl statement in shutout of No. 8 Razorbacks
ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia’s determination to win its top-10 matchup against Arkansas on the ground had nothing to do with which quarterback started for the Bulldogs.
Instead, it was all about taking what the Arkansas defense gave Georgia — and the Bulldogs just kept taking and taking. And that made it even easier for the Georgia defense to dominate.
Zamir White rushed for two touchdowns and recovered a blocked punt for another score, and No. 2 Georgia pounded No. 8 Arkansas 37-0 on Saturday in the Bulldogs’ second consecutive shutout.
Georgia (5-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) raced to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter despite playing without quarterback JT Daniels, who was held out with a right lat injury.
Stetson Bennett filled in for Daniels and passed for only 72 yards as the Bulldogs relied on their running game and top-rated defense to beat Arkansas (4-1, 1-1).
“They were basically challenging us, could we run the ball,” Bennett said. “They said we couldn’t but we said we could today.”
Daniels was in uniform, but he missed his second game of the season after testing the injury in pregame warmups. Smart said before the game Daniels’ status was based on the pregame work. After the game, there seemed to be less certainty that the junior was close to playing.
“We think we’re going to be able to get him back but we don’t know when,” Smart said, adding “JT is frustrated. He wants to play quarterback and he doesn’t get to when he has an injury.”
The Bulldogs rushed for 273 yards and wore down the Arkansas defense, holding the ball for 36 minutes.
The matchup of top-10 SEC teams turned into a statement game for Georgia.
“I think we know how good we are,” Bennett said. “I think we know what it takes to be that good every week.”
Georgia, leading the nation in total defense and scoring defense after last week’s 62-0 win at Vanderbilt, held Arkansas to 10 first downs and 156 yards. Linebacker Nakobe Dean and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt each had 1 sacks.
The last time Georgia recorded back-toback shutouts in SEC games was in 1980, its last national championship season.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart said he understood the significance of the consecutive conference shutouts.
“It’s 1980 rare,” Smart said.
It was a sobering experience for Arkansas second-year coach Sam Pittman, the former Georgia offensive line coach.
“I don’t want to simplify this, but they just whipped us physically,” Pittman said. “We couldn’t block them and we couldn’t get off blocks for much of the day.”
Georgia stuck to the run as Arkansas aligned its defense with extra defensive backs.
Georgia stretched its lead to 21-0 when walk-on defensive back Dan Jackson blocked Reid Bauer’s punt and White fell on the ball in the end zone.
Arkansas also had quarterback questions after KJ Jefferson missed most of the second half of last week’s win over Texas A&M with a bruised left knee. Jefferson completed 8 of 13 passes for 65 yards.
Malik Hornsby replaced Jefferson in the final quarter.
Arkansas linebacker Grant Morgan said the Razorbacks would recover from the lopsided loss.
“That’s what good football teams do, and we’re a good football team,” Morgan said.
Jack Podlesny kicked field goals of 46, 30 and 37 yards. Cam Little was wide right from 37 yards in the second quarter for the Razorbacks.