White scores 3 TDs to lead Georgia rout of Arkansas
ATHENS, Ga. — 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).
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 following last week’s 62-0 win at Vanderbilt, held Arkansas to 10 first downs and 156 yards.
The last time Georgia recorded back-to-back shutouts in SEC games was in 1980, its last national championship season.
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 secondyear 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.”
The Bulldogs rushed for 273 yards while continuing their committee approach at running back. James Cook had 87 yards on 12 carries. Kenny McIntosh had 57 yards. Kendall Milton ran for 48 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown.
White had scoring runs of 3 and 15 yards. He finished with 68 yards on 16 carries.
Georgia stuck to the run as Arkansas aligned its defense with extra defensive backs.