LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas senior linebacker Braylon Mitchell was ejected with 5:50 left in the second quarter when he drew a targeting penalty for leading with his helmet on a hit to the face of Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason.
“I don’t think Braylon went after him or tried to go high,” Bielema said. “The guy’s falling, [Mitchell is] falling, he’s trying to go hard. You’re in a full sprint, and it’s really kind of hard to control yourself. But obviously he targeted, and you’ve got pay the piper.”
True freshman Randy Ramsey replaced Mitchell.
Marshall suspended
Arkansas tailback and kickoff returner Korliss Marshall was suspended for Saturday’s game against Georgia by Razorbacks Coach Bret Bielema for disciplinary reasons and it may be a while before he plays again.
“Korliss won’t be with us for a period of about three to four weeks,” Bielema said after the Bulldogs beat the Razorbacks 45-32 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. “There were some choices he made away from the game that are going to keep him out for a while.”
Bielema said he had a “pretty spirited conversation” Monday or Tuesday and “took him out of our program for the week.” Bielema and Marshall met again Friday.
Bielema declined to be specific about what Marshall did to be suspended, but indicated Marshall is another transgression away from being dismissed.
“He’s only got one more opportunity to get it right,” Bielema said. “If he doesn’t get it right, it’ll probably be one of the saddest stories in my coaching career, because he’s got a lot of talent and he’s got a great heart.
“He’s just made some poor choices that won’t be rewarded in our program, I guarantee that.”
Skipper pulled
Arkansas sophomore left tackle Dan Skipper, who as started 15 consecutive games, was pulled by Coach Bret Bielema after drawing a chop block penalty in the third quarter.
Sophomore Denver Kirkland, also with 15 consecutive starts, moved from right guard to left tackle in Skipper’s place with senior Luke Charpentier going in at left guard.
Skipper returned to play tackle after two series, with Kirkland going back to guard.
Skipper has suffered penalty problems in other games. After he was called for tripping and holding against Texas A&M that negated an Arkansas touchdown and a long run to the Aggies’ 1 in a 35-28 overtime loss, Bielema changed his number from 76 to 63.
New PAT guy
Redshirt sophomore Adam McFain made the first extra-point attempt of his career to pull Arkansas to within 38-19 in the third quarter. McFain took over extra-point duties after senior John Henson had an attempt blocked for the second game in a row.
First TD
Freshman Kendrick Edwards scored his first touchdown as a Razorback on a 4-yard pass from Brandon Allen in the fourth quarter. It was the Razorbacks’ first fourth-quarter score in four SEC games this season.
Not sweet 16
The Razorbacks lost their 16th consecutive SEC game, including an 0-4 start this season after going 0-8 a year ago.
Their last SEC victory came against Kentucky, 49-7, on Oct. 13, 2012, in a game called in the second half because of lightning.
Arkansas’ record for consecutive conference losses is 20, which happened from 1940-1943 when the Razorbacks played in the Southwest Conference.
Loss for West
Arkansas became the first SEC West team to lose to a team outside the division this season. West teams had been 26-0 against outsiders before Georgia’s victory over the Razorbacks.
Good no-call
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema tried to call a timeout when the Razorbacks had a fourth-and-goal play from the Georgia 2 in the third quarter. Fortunately for the Razorbacks, the officials didn’t see Bielema as Brandon Allen threw a touchdown pass to Hunter Henry on the play.
Losing in the Rock
Arkansas dropped to 1-4 in Little Rock since the start of the 2012 season.
The Razorbacks lost to Louisiana-Monroe and Ole Miss in Little Rock in 2012 and beat Samford and lost to Mississippi State in overtime last season before Saturday’s loss to Georgia.
Arkansas’ last SEC victory in Little Rock was in 2011, when the Razorbacks beat Mississippi State 44-17.
The Razorbacks are 149-56-2 in War Memorial Stadium, where they have played since its opening in 1948, and 167-69-4 in Little Rock.
For starters
Arkansas sophomore middle linebacker Josh Williams made his first start. He replaced Brooks Ellis, who was sidelined by bruised knee he suffered against Alabama last week.
Rankled
Arkansas lost to a nationally-ranked team for the 13th consecutive time.
The Razorbacks’ last victory over a ranked team when No. 7 Arkansas beat No. 11 Kansas State 29-16 in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 7, 2012.
In addition to losing at Auburn and to Texas A&M — both ranked No. 6 at the time — and to No. 7 Alabama and No. 10 Georgia this season, the Razorbacks lost to No. 10 Texas A&M, No. 18 Florida, No. 14 South Carolina, No. 1 Alabama, No. 8 Auburn and No. 15 LSU last season.
In 2012, Arkansas lost to No. 1 Alabama, No. 12 South Carolina and No. 8 LSU.