Yes, Georgia can move the ball without Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno.

At least, the Bulldogs did against an Arkansas team that again looked overmatched defensively.

Joe Cox threw for 375 yards and five touchdowns, and Georgia pulled away late for an entertaining 52-41 victory Saturday night. After a few early mistakes, the Bulldogs rallied to improve to 25-4 under coach Mark Richt in Southeastern Conference opponents stadiums.

We certainly know how to keep things exciting, Richt said. It was a spirited victory tonight. I still dont feel like weve reached our full potential, but were getting there.

Georgia won a high-scoring game for the second straight week after beating South Carolina 41-37. The Bulldogs moved from No. 23 to No. 21 in Sundays AP Top 25.

Ryan Mallett threw for 408 yards and five touchdowns for the Razorbacks, who showed a national television audience how dangerous they can be in their second year under coach Bobby Petrino. Mallett threw for 161 yards and three touchdowns in the first quarter alone, and that early onslaught put Arkansas ahead 21-10.

But the Razorbacks still dont know if theyll have an SEC-caliber defense this season. Richard Samuels 80-yard touchdown run gave Georgia a boost, and the Bulldogs gained 201 yards in the second quarter to take a 27-21 lead into halftime.

Im very disappointed in the defense, Petrino said. Ryan gave us a chance to win the game today. He prepared all week and the week before really well.

The Razorbacks (1-1, 0-1) were coming off an open date, but even with the extra time to prepare, the defense didnt look any better than the group that allowed 31 points per game last season. Linebacker Jerry Franklin was ejected in the second quarter.

We needed a better rush, defensive lineman Malcolm Sheppard said. We didnt put much pressure on their quarterback. It hurt not having Jerry Franklin.

Georgia lost two fumbles and an interception early, but once the Bulldogs (2-1, 2-0) stopped turning the ball over, they moved it pretty much at will. The Hogs took the lead twice in the third quarter, but could never hold it for more than a few plays.

The low point for the Arkansas defense? After the Razorbacks took a 35-34 lead, Georgia needed only two plays to answer on a 44-yard scoring pass from Cox to Orson Charles. The Bulldogs then went for 2 even after a penalty pushed the ball back to the 8-yard line. They easily converted when Cox found A.J. Green open in the corner of the end zone.

Georgia doesnt appear to have a running back as dangerous as Moreno, but Green is trying to make up for that with his ability to get open downfield. He caught seven passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns, including a 28-yarder in the fourth quarter that made it 49-38.

Cox tied a school record with his five touchdown passes. Stafford, his predecessor, is one of three other Georgia players to throw for that many. Now Stafford and Moreno are in the NFL, but although the Bulldogs lost their opener at Oklahoma State, their offense has bounced back in a big way.

These kinds of games are good for you, Cox said. I think its great to get a win any way you can, but when you do it like this it says something about the team as a whole. This was an important win for us against a good team.

Posted on September 21st, 2009 by admin
Filed under: College football news, NCAA college football