University of Georgia Athletics
Getting Defensive
October 24, 2004 | Football
Oct. 24, 2004
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- In typical David Pollack fashion, on the play in which he became Georgia's all-time leader in sacks, he did just a little bit more.
Pollack, the Bulldogs' All-America defensive end, sacked Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones twice on Saturday. That gave him 29.5 for his career, eclipsing the school mark of 29 set by Richard Tardits from 1985-88.
But Pollack wasn't done there. With cornerback DeMario Minter locked onto Jones' feet, Pollack all at once sacked Jones and used his left hand to punch the ball away. In the same motion, Pollack fell on the ball, giving Georgia possession at the Razorbacks' 8. The turnover led to a Georgia field goal, accounting for the final points in the 20-14 win.
"I came from the backside, and (Minter) held him up and slowed him down. That's the only reason I got to him," Pollack said. "Matt holds the ball out away from his body, so when he winged it out, I just tried to hit. Then the ball just bounced the right way. God is good."
Pollack was a driving force -- again -- as the Bulldogs' defense played well -- again. Arkansas entered Saturday's game averaging 34.8 points and 438.8 total yards per contest. But Georgia held Arkansas in check, giving up just 278 total yards and one offensive touchdown.
| Photo by Radi Nabulsi. |
"Our defense does such a great job," Georgia receiver Fred Gibson said. "I'm just glad they're ours and that I don't have to go against them."
The Razorbacks got off to a strong start, marching as deep as the Bulldogs' 4-yard line on their initial possession, only to be thwarted when a field goal attempt went wide left. On its next possession, Arkansas drove into the red zone again, this time cashing in on Jones' 17-yard pass to receiver Marcus Monk.
On those two drives alone, Arkansas had 115 yards. The Razorbacks got just 163 the rest of the way.
"We kept our composure," safety Greg Blue, who had six tackles. "That was our goal. We didn't want to make any critical errors. We were in position on those first drives, but we just didn't make the plays. We knew we still had four quarters and that we couldn't let that happen again."
Still, after Pollack's sack/fumble recovery play, the Bulldogs found themselves needing some more stops in the final minutes. Jones, who had been nursing a groin pull, did not return and gave way to freshman quarterback Robert Johnson. (Said Richt, "Matt Jones is a warrior. I'm sure he would have finished it if he could.")
| Defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder gives his troops a double thumbs-up after a stop in Saturday's game. Photo by Radi Nabulsi. |
"That's what we love," Pollack said. "That's our attitude. We were out on the field talking about how much we love to be in situations like that. The defense had to step up and make plays. When you go on the road, you've got to pack your defense. I think the defense did a good job of bowing up and shutting them down when we needed to."
"We took it as a business-like job," said linebacker Derrick White, who had three tackles and a fumble recovery that led to a Georgia touchdown. "Slowing them down was very hard. They run so many formations. We had to focus and try to hold them down."
And that plan started with Jones, who came into the game as Arkansas' leading passer and rusher. Jones was 12-of-19 for 181 yards, but he was sacked twice and was limited to only 21 yards on the ground. Even so, he emerged from the game as the SEC's all-time leader in rushing yards by a quarterback as he now has 2,301.
"He's a playmaker," Pollack said. "He can do so many things. You can only hope to contain him because you can't stop him."
"Usually in about four seconds the ball is out of there from a quarterback," Blue said. "But with him, he moves around and he's going to find something. If you don't stay on your man, it's a touchdown."
"He's tough," said linebacker Odell Thurman, who led Georgia with 10 tackles. "He got out of one of my sacks, so I have to give him his props."
"As a defense, you've got to be disciplined with him," Richt said. "He's so elusive. If you don't play it right, he'll break free."
Fortunately, Pollack played it right and Jones didn't break free. And that's why his name is at the top of Georgia's all-time sacks list.
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