Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Bulldogs escape with 52-41 win over Arkansas

By on September 20, 2009

UGA-Arkansas final stats
Ed Morales
UGA-Arkansas final stats
Receiver Michael Moore celebrates after Georgia
DANIEL SHIREY
Receiver Michael Moore celebrates after Georgia's 52-41 win over Arkansas Saturday.
Georgia receiver A.J. Green scores on a 25-yard pass from Joe Cox in second quarter action.
BLAKE LIPTHRATT
Georgia receiver A.J. Green scores on a 25-yard pass from Joe Cox in second quarter action.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – So much for the traditional SEC defensive clash.

Georgia’s 52-41 win over Arkansas Saturday night was all about scoring. And scoring. And scoring.

The Bulldogs and Razorbacks combined for 1,015 yards of total offense, with both defenses helpless to stop the passing game.

“It was a high-energy game,” said Tavarres King, who caught his first career touchdown catch Saturday. “It was just having fun in the SEC. It was completely fun the whole night.”

Fun for an offensive player.

Georgia quarterback Joe Cox had a career night, finishing 18-of-26 for 375 yards and five touchdowns (tying a school record) and an interception.

“Joe was extremely accurate and our offensive line protected him well,” said Georgia coach Mark Richt. “Joe led us really well.”

A.J. Green racked up 137 yards receiving and two touchdowns, while Richard Samuel and Caleb King combined for 162 yards on the ground.

Samuel gave Georgia its longest play from scrimmage on the season with an 80-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

“The backs had to come back and show we can do more than provide short yardage,” Samuel said. “It felt real good.”

Richt said the key to opening the offense up was getting more players involved. The sparse scoring attack witnessed in the season-opening loss at Oklahoma State is long-gone.

“We kind of restricted ourselves to just A.J. Green and Richard Samuel making a play,” Richt said. “We said we’ve got to give everybody a shot at making plays. We’ve got to get them involved.”