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BOX SCORE
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Arkansas coach Houston Nutt called for
a quick pass on the Razorbacks' first play, thinking Georgia would
be sitting back on defense.
|  | | Georgia cornerback Jamie Henderson intercepted this pass in the first quarter to set the tone in the Bulldogs' lopsided win. |
Instead, cornerback Jamie Henderson was sitting on top of Boo
Williams, and quarterback Robby Hampton did nothing to back him
off. Henderson's 35-yard interception for a touchdown got Georgia (No. 24 ESPN/USA Today, No. 25 AP) off to a fast start the Bulldogs ended the Razorbacks'
in-state success under Nutt with a 38-7 victory Saturday.
"When you get in a hole, it's tough against a veteran group
like that," Nutt said.
"We just built off that and played a solid defensive game,"
said Georgia tackle Marcus Stroud.
The Bulldogs (3-1, 1-1 SEC) did it with a defense that held
Arkansas (3-1, 1-1) to one first down during the first 28 minutes
and a running game that pounded the Razorbacks up front.
Georgia quarterback Quincy Carter made a well-timed pitch on
Bruce Thornton's 21-yard touchdown run that increased the lead to
24-0 at the half and completed some important passes, but also
missed some open receivers.
The loss was the first for Arkansas inside the state borders
since Nutt took over as coach -- a string of 15 games. The
Razorbacks were without their top two tailbacks, Cedric Cobbs and
Fred Talley, who were hurt last week against Alabama. Alvin Ray, a
third teamer last week, gained 1 yard on five first-half carries.
The Bulldogs made 13 first downs in the first half and held the
ball almost 18½ minutes. Arkansas managed five first downs and 105
yards in the first three quarters and trailed 38-0 at that point.
Jim Donnan, Georgia's fifth-year coach, called the victory
monumental.
"This is the biggest game we've played since I've been here,"
he said. "You've got to remember how fragile our team has been
since (the loss to) South Carolina, and we needed something good to
happen to us."
Georgia scored 10 points during a 17-second span in the first
quarter.
Billy Bennett ended the Bulldogs' first possession with a
39-yard field goal. The Razorbacks went without a huddle on their
first play, splitting two receivers to the left and leaving Ray
alone behind the quarterback. Hampton backed up a couple of steps
and look to the left sideline for Williams. Henderson intercepted
cleanly in front of Williams and scored easily.
Georgia drove 54 yards for its second touchdown after Richard
Smith made a fair catch of a punt at the Arkansas 7 and the
Razorbacks couldn't get out of the hole.
Jasper Sanks and Thornton ran for two first downs and Carter
fooled Arkansas with a first-down play fake and a pass to Randy
McMichael for a 7-yard gain. Sanks and Thornton carried once each
for a first down at the 10 before a penalty moved the ball back to
the 15. Damien Gary made a sliding catch at the 2. Sanks was hit in
the backfield, but he spun, kept his balance and crawled over a
couple of players to the end zone.
Carter started the Bulldogs' third touchdown drive with a short
pass that Brett Millican turned into a 20-yard gain. On third-and-2
from the Arkansas 21, Carter started left on the option. He waited
until Derrick Johnson committed and then pitched to Thornton who
cut inside a defender on his way to the end zone.
The Razorbacks couldn't make a first down on their first two
possessions of the second half and the Bulldogs only had to cover
44 yards for a 31-0 lead. The defense reacted to Carter rolling
left and Gary worked open in the middle. Corey Harris missed a
tackle, Gary got to the right sideline and Jevaris Johnson screened
the final defender.
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