ATHENS, Ga. – Three games into the season, Georgia fifth-year senior receiver Kris Durham has produced two career-best performances.
Durham had receptions of 46 and 35 yards in the fourth quarter to set up touchdowns for the Bulldogs, who rallied to tie Arkansas 24-24 only to lose 31-24. The 6-foot-5, 212-pounder from Calhoun had five receptions for 101 yards, his first 100-yard game.
“It doesn’t matter what my performance was,” a dejected Durham said. “I would rather get the ‘W.'”
His effort was not lost on offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, who appreciates how Durham has stepped up in A.J. Green’s absence. Green was suspended for a third straight game Saturday and will not make this week’s trip to Mississippi State.
In the 55-7 opening win over Louisiana-Lafayette, Durham set career marks with five catches for 83 yards and a touchdown.
“Durham is making plays,” Bobo said. “All those catches he had today were not easy, and that’s what we talk about in the meeting room, because the throw is not always going to be perfect. I thought all our receivers did an excellent job today, because there were some throws that were high.”
Penalties resurface
Georgia entered Saturday’s game ranked ninth nationally in fewest penalty yards with 27.5 a game but evoked memories of last year with nine flags for 53 yards. Two of the costlier ones occurred on special teams, which left the Bulldogs with lousy field position.
A block in the back early in the second quarter by Alec Ogletree on a kickoff return left Georgia starting a drive at its 7-yard line. A personal foul on Sanders Commings during a third-quarter punt return resulted in the Bulldogs starting on their 12.
The Bulldogs failed to score in either of those possessions.
Three Adams rules
Georgia president Michael Adams said Saturday that he recently discussed his concerns over the nine football student-athletes who have been arrested since March with members of the athletic association. Adams said every athletic association employee attended the meeting, and he believes everyone is clear on what he called the three Adams rules.
“You follow NCAA and SEC guidelines, you go to class, and you stay out of trouble,” Adams said. “You don’t have to be Phi Beta Kappa, but you have to do those three things in order to play here. It’s an honor to put on the jersey that says ‘Georgia,’ so we expect people to represent us in a positive fashion on and off the field. That’s not an unrealistic expectation.”
Odds and ends
Several significant Bulldogs sat out the game with injuries, including tailback Caleb King (ankle), guard Chris Davis (hip and knee), cornerback Branden Smith (concussion), inside linebacker Marcus Dowtin (shoulder stinger) and nose Justin Anderson (turf toe). … Guard Tanner Strickland got his first career start, replacing Davis. … The Bulldogs converted two fourth-down conversions during the first half, including once in the second quarter from their 29-yard line. … Blair Walsh made his 100th consecutive extra point in the first quarter and now is 102-of-102 in his career.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or (423) 757-6524.