Georgia benefits from four turnovers

photo Georgia running back Nick Chubb (27) pushes past Arkansas defenders linebacker Martrell Spaight (47), safety Rohan Gaines, bottom left, and defensive end JaMichael Winston, top left, in their game in Little Rock, Ark., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014.

If opponents are willing to give, the Georgia Bulldogs are willing to receive.

After collecting five turnovers in last week's 34-0 skunking at Missouri, the Bulldogs gained four during Saturday's 45-32 win over Arkansas in Little Rock.

Georgia got two fumbles and two interceptions against the Razorbacks, turning them into 21 points. The Bulldogs entered Saturday's game atop the Southeastern Conference and fifth nationally with a plus-9 turnover margin and now are at plus-13.

"We did a lot of flying around to the football the first half," Bulldogs junior outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins said. "We came out fired up. Unfortunately, we kind of let them back in there a little bit the second half."

Leonard Floyd recovered Georgia's first fumble, and Dominick Sanders picked up the second one and raced 54 yards for a touchdown. Sanders accounted for the third defensive touchdown by the Bulldogs this season, following Josh Dawson's fumble recovery in the end zone against Tennessee and Devin Bowman's 63-yard interception return against Vanderbilt.

Making Georgia's interceptions were Quincy Mauger and Damian Swann. Mauger and Swann share the team lead with three interceptions apiece.

State ownership

Georgia improved to 10-4 all-time against the Razorbacks, including a 5-0 record in the state of Arkansas.

The Bulldogs won at Fayetteville in 1992 (27-3), 2000 (38-7), 2004 (20-14) and 2009 (52-41). Saturday's game was the first between the two in Little Rock.

Saturday's outcome also halted the SEC West's 26-0 record against teams from outside the division, with Georgia coach Mark Richt improving to 28-10 against the West during regular-season games.

"That was about as good as you could hope a first half could go," Richt said.

More of the same

Georgia senior quarterback Hutson Mason had a typical stat line, completing 10 of 17 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. He was most effective when the Bulldogs needed him in the early going, completing 7 of 12 first-half passes for 127 yards and a score.

Mason's big beneficiary Saturday was senior receiver Chris Conley, who had five catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. It was the fifth 100-yard game of Conley's career and the first this season.

Odds and ends

Senior defensive end Ray Drew blocked the extra point after Arkansas took a 6-0 lead, marking the first blocked PAT for the Bulldogs since 2012, when Kwame Geathers notched one against Florida Atlantic. ... Senior center David Andrews started his 34th consecutive game, while senior inside linebacker Amarlo Herrera made his 37th career start and 22nd straight. ... Senior fullback Taylor Maxey left the game in the second quarter with a neck injury and did not return. ... Sophomore receiver Blake Tibbs suffered a concussion in the first half and did not return.

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