National

No. 2 Bulldogs shut down No. 8 Razorbacks, 37-0

UGA Football: Georgia running back Zamir White (3) during the Bulldogs’ game with Arkansas in Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. (Photo by Tony Walsh)

ATHENS — The Georgia Bulldogs are continuing to dominate around the SEC after shutting out the No. 8-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks 37-0 to advance to 5-0 on the season and 3-0 in the conference. Starting quarterback JT Daniels was ruled out ahead of game time with a latissimus dorsi injury, granting the start to Stetson Bennett. Bennett had a fairly quiet game against the Razorbacks in Daniels’ absence, completing 7 out of 11 passes for 72 yards.

In the first quarter, UGA picked up where they left off in previous games by enforcing the run game to wear down the Arkansas defense. In 10 plays the Bulldogs made it down the field for a 1-yard touchdown run from Zamir White for the first score of the day. The Razorbacks began their first drive on offense at their own 17-yard line. Two false start penalties pinned Arkansas back to their own 7-yard line to start the drive. On the next play, the Bulldogs sent pressure and got home against Razorback QB KJ Jefferson with Devonte Wyatt picking up the sack. An incomplete pass from Arkansas led to a three-and-out situation for the Razorbacks. After the punt, the Bulldogs received the ball on the Razorbacks’ 49-yard line to begin their drive. Powerful runs from Kendall Milton and White drove Georgia down to Arkansas’ 32-yard line. A huge pass completion from Bennett to Kenny McIntosh for 27 yards, allowed McIntosh to score on a 3-yard run to put the Bulldogs up two scores early. The Bulldogs’ defense forced a consecutive three-and-out situation on the Razorbacks, which led to an Arkansas’ punt attempt being blocked by defensive back Dan Jackson and recovered by White for the score. A successful extra-point kick put the Bulldogs up 21-0 with 2:13 left in the game.

In the second quarter, the Razorbacks’ offense began to find a rhythm and was able to drive down the field on Georgia’s defense. After making it to UGA’s 25-yard line and looking at another three-and-out situation, the Razorbacks attempted a field goal, which was called no-good and the ball was back in Georgia’s hands. The Bulldogs responded by marching back down the field and settling with a 46-yard field goal after failing to pick up the first down right before the halftime break.

After halftime, the Bulldogs kept to their same routine game plan of sending pressure and playing assignment football to continue wreaking havoc. Arkansas’ first set of downs in the second half resulted in another three-and-out situation delivered by Georgia’s stout defense. Following the punt, UGA received the ball on Arkansas’ 41-yard line. A solid set of runs from James Cook, White, McIntosh, and Milton had set up Podlesny for another successful field goal kick from 30 yards to make the score 27-0 at the 10:05-mark of the third quarter. A few possessions later from both teams, the Bulldogs had put the game out of reach for the Razorbacks after Big Zeus tacked on another touchdown score on a 15-yard run early in the fourth quarter.

For Georgia’s offense, James Cook was the leading rusher with 87 yards on 12 carries. White was the co-leading rusher with 16 carries for 68 yards and two touchdowns. McIntosh ended the game with 57 yards rushing on 10 rushing attempts. Ladd McConkey and McIntosh were the leading receivers for UGA with 27 yards apiece. Georgia’s offense recorded 345 yards total to the Razorbacks’ 162. The Bulldogs earned 21 first downs to Arkansas’ 10 in the game.

On defense, Wyatt finished the contest as the leading tackler with six total, three being solo along with 1.5 sacks, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. Adam Anderson and Channing Tindall were the second leading tacklers among the defense, recording five total each. Nakobe Dean and Anderson each came away with sacks in the game.

Next week, the Bulldogs will be back on the road to take on the Auburn Tigers between Noon or 3:30 p.m. EST.


Kasey Richardson

Kasey Richardson

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Digital Producer and Journalist

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