By Nate Allen

sports@joplinglobe.com

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Backup Nathan Emert quarterbacked more than half the game and way more than half the points as Arkansas frosted its last cupcake.

The Razorbacks, 5-3, swamped 0-8 Florida International, 58-10 in Saturday’s nonconference homecoming before 60,570 at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Starting with next Saturday’s 7 p.m. ESPN televised game against South Carolina here, November is all SEC all the time for Arkansas’ final four games.

Emert likely would have played much of the second half in Saturday’s rout, but the Shiloh Christian alum and former Missouri Southern starting quarterback, got handed the reins way earlier.

With 11 minutes left in the first half add the Hogs up 17-0, starting quarterback Casey Dick got clobbered on a 4-yard loss and suffered both bruised ribs and a slight concussion.

Dick was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure but a CAT scan was negative. He likely will practice by Tuesday, the UA Sports Information department reported.

Without missing a beat, Emert completed 13-of-25 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown, a 13-yard strike to activated previously injured senior split end Marcus Monk, and committed no turnovers.

Amassing 2007 receiving yards and 24 TD catches the past three years, but logging his first real action of 2007 since an Aug. 9 knee injury required two surgeries, Monk had never officially caught an Emert pass until Saturday’s TD.

“Nathan was ready and prepared,” Monk said. “We hope Casey gets back out there, but we have total confidence in Nathan.”

Emert was aided and abetted by the foot of fellow Springdale native Alex Tejada, the freshman placekicker from Springdale High, who was 3-for-3 on field goals, including Arkansas’ first possession of each half, tailback Darren McFadden’s four touchdowns, and a Razorback defense that made more turnovers than a bakery.

The Razorbacks’ five interceptions, two by backup safety Rashaad Johnson and one each by safety Kevin Woods and cornerbacks Michael Grant and Jerrel Norton, and two fumble recoveries provided such a short field that Arkansas won by 48 despite slightly losing on the possession clock.

“I can’t say enough,” Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said, “about our secondary the last two games to have nine interceptions. Offensively we didn’t have far to go, but we did what we needed to do.”

Emert’s experience at Missouri Southern, including a record-setting season before he was beaten out for the job and transferred to the UA as a walkon, helped him do what was needed, Nutt said.