Live Updates: Georgia vs Arkansas
Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs open up a far from normal football season in a far from familiar place as the Dawgs head to to Fayetteville, Arkansas to take on the Razorbacks.
Though they've only played 14 times since 1969, Georgia and Arkansas are rather familiar with one another in 2020. Former Georgia offensive line coach, Sam Pittman is now the head man in Fayettville. Former Florida QB, Feleipe Franks is the new starting quarterback for the Razorbacks. Barry Odom has faced off against Kirby Smart the last four years as the head coach at Missouri. Not to mention several former coaches like Scott Fountain are now on the staff for Arkansas.
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Pregame Notes:
Quarterback
Kirby Smart said on College Gameday that they have named a starter privately, and are excited to watch him play today. And well, considering JT Daniels has yet to be fully cleared, it's only reasonable to expect D'Wan Mathis to be the starter today, as we reported on Friday.
Starters:
As we projected this morning, John Fitzpatrick is at the top of the depth chart at tight end with Tre' McKitty being questionable. Jermaine Burton was at the top of the depth chart at the Z position paired with Matt Landers.
LIVE Updates:
3:38 PM: According to SECNetwork sideline reporter, Tera Talmadge, it's clear that D'Wan Mathis will be your starter today, as expected.
4:00 PM: Georgia won the toss, and deferred to the second half. Arkansas will get the ball first.
4:10 PM: After Georgia's defense forces a three and out, Mathis takes the field. RPO on the first snap, with a QB Draw on the second. Clearly showing they will be running Mathis today. After getting one first down, Mathis is hit hard out of bounds on a scramble on 3rd & Long. Georgia punts back to Arkansas.
(0-7) 8:48 1Q: Feleipe Franks hits Burks for a 49-yard TD pass to put Arkansas up first. Arkansas clearly identifying the one of one matchup that they like. They might throw it 50 times today.
(0:7) 3:14 1Q: After an exchange of three and outs, they proceeded to exchange a pair of interceptions. Franks throws one to Richard LeCounte. Then D'Wan Mathis was picked off in the redzone on an errant throw.
Second Quarter
(2-7) 14:30 2Q: Georgia's first score of the season comes via a Safety in the back of the endzone by Arkansas. Georgia will get the ball back.
10:02 2Q: Stetson Bennett on the field with the offense. Mathis has been pulled.
3:34 2Q: Georgia cannot get out of 3rd & Long on offense. Even when they have a 3 & short, they run the ball twice and turn it over on downs after getting stuffed.
(5-7) End of Half: Podlesny closes out the half with a field goal.
Third Quarter
(5-7) 12:38 3Q: James Cook fumbles on third down, Arkansas ball at midfield.
(5-10) 8:23 3Q: Arkansas tacks on a field goal following the turnover. Georgia's defense makes a stand on the goal line.
(13-10) 6:00 3Q: Stetson Bennett walks the Dawgs down the field and hits George Pickens for a 19-yard Touchdown, then scrambles for the 2-point conversion.
(20-10) 3:00 3Q: Given a short field after Tyson Campbell got his hands on the punt from Arkansas, Stetson Bennett hits John Fitzpatrick for a TD.
(27-10) 2:53 3Q: Eric Stokes intercepts the Franks pass and takes it back for a touchdown.
Fourth Quarter
(34-10) 11:15 4Q: Zamir White scores to make it 29 points unanswered after a pretty rough start by Georgia.
3:59 4Q: Georgia has moved into full-on milk the clock mode late in the fourth quarter. Mathis is back on the field closing out the game for Georgia.
(37-10) 1:23 4Q: Poldesny tacks on a field goal to stretch the lead.
FINAL: Georgia wins (37-10)
Personnel Notes:
Offensively:
- The Backs are on a three-man rotation at this point, Zamir, Cook, and Kenny McIntosh are heavily involved.
- 12-personnel appears to be a mainstay. Two tight ends (Fitzpatrick & Washington) is being used heavily in the first half.
- Rotation of wideouts it seems surrounded by Pickens. We've seen Burton, Robertson, Jackson, Landers, Rosemy-Jacksaint so far.
- Boy that was a quick trigger on D'Wan Mathis. Stetson Bennett on the field the first possession of the second quarter.
Defensively:
- 3rd Down package appears to be a combination of Jermaine Johnson, Travon Walker, Jalen Carter, and Nolan Smith paired with a rotation of Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker
- Quay Walker is playing a LOT. Giving breathers to both Nakobe Dean and Monty Rice.
- Tyrique Stevenson started at STAR, he and Webb have rotated a good bit.
- They are playing a bunch of man to man coverage throughout the half.
Injury Notes:
According to a source, we do not expect Georgia to have any non-participants today due to COVID.
Kelee Ringo - Shoulder (OUT)
Arian Smith - Knee (OUT)
Tre' McKitty - Knee (Doubtful)
JT Daniels - Knee (Dressed) - JT Daniels has not yet been officially cleared though he is dressed out today, however. Kirby Smart did say that Daniels will be fully cleared to him the moment he's able to be tackled for four quarters.
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