Last trip to Shreveport netted Dogs win over Arkansas

By Bud L. Ellis

Nobody could’ve known it back then, but when the Georgia Bulldogs met the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 1991 Independence Bowl, it would be a preview of the game that launched the Dogs back to the Sugar Bowl a decade later.

As many Georgia fans fondly remember, the Dogs won the SEC championship in 2002, routing Arkansas in the Georgia Dome to punch the Dogs’ ticket to New Orleans and the program’s first conference title and Sugar Bowl berth in 20 years.

But when the Dogs and Hogs met in Shreveport in the 1991 Independence Bowl, the two teams weren’t even in the same conference (Arkansas would join the SEC a season later).

Georgia started fast, racing to a 14-0 lead. Eric Zeier, who now is the Georgia radio color commentator, found Arthur Mitchell and offensive-MVP Andre Hastings on two touchdown passes. Hastings would catch four passes for 94 yards, and scored on a 53-yard run on a reverse in the third quarter to give the Dogs a 24-7 lead, putting the game out of reach.

The Dogs also got a 39-yard field goal by Kanon Parkman. Zeier finished 18-for-28 passing for 228 yards.

Defensively, the Dogs were led by defensive-MVP linebacker Torrey Evans, who came off the bench to intercept a pass, recover a fumble and record four tackles. On the day, the Dogs picked off five passes.

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Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 10:00 pm by bud

Tags: Andre Hastings, Arkansas, Arthur Mitchell, Eric Zeier, Georgia, Georgia Dome, Independence Bowl, Kanon Parkman, Texas A&M, Torrey Evans