Bulldogs run past Razorbacks

They dominate and finish with 273 yards rushing as Bennett fills in for the injured Daniels.

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 because of 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 toprated 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.”

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 had11⁄2 sacks.

The last time Georgia recorded back-to-back 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 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.

⁄2 Todd Kirkland Getty Images ARKANSAS QUARTERBACK KJ Jefferson is wrapped up by1 Georgia defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt during the first half in Athens, Ga. Wyatt had 1 sacks in the game.