“He’s so mature,” Nutt said. “It’s not like he’s just a guy first-time ready to play. He’s played before and understands the offense backwards and forwards. I’ve got a lot of confidence in him. He really took control of the huddle.”

The Casey Dick quarterbacked points included Tejada’s 32-yard field goal with 12:09 left in the first quarter after Arkansas defensive end

Adrian Davis recovered a fumble at the FIU, and McFadden capping 51 and 32-yard drives with with 3 and 1-yard touchdown runs.

McFadden’s second touchdown was preceded by cornerback Matteral Richardson recovering a Golden Panther fumble.

Emert inherited the 17-point cushion but also inherited second-and-14 when Dick got decked.

“He came in,” Nutt said, “very calm and poised and did everything the right way.”

What was Emert’s reaction to be an understudy summoned in the second act?

“I would take it one play at a time,” Emert said. “When you have great guys like we do in this offense, there’s nothing to be nervous about. A lot of guys stepped up and the defense gave us field position all day.”

Feel any different than his MSSU days?

“A little bit,” Emert said laughing. “Just the speed of the game, the crowd, it was a lot of fun.”

A pass interference penalty netted Emert a first down and a 13-yard run by fullback Peyton Hillis and Hillis’ beautiful 25-yard sideline reception of Emert’s likewise pretty pass netted a first down at the 2 before Arkansas scored.

Emert connected with Hillis for an 18-yard pass on the scoring drive that ended with the 13-yard TD to Monk with 1:42 left in the half.

“I thought he did a great job,” Hillis said. “He’s had good character all year long, not griping, not complaining when he wasn’t playing and then coming and made some noise. He’s a very smart guy and a very good quarterback.”