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.

“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.”