Backup quarterback 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 State College starting quarterback, got handed the reins way earlier.

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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 for 154 yards and a touchdown, a 13-yard strike to activated previously injured senior split end Marcus Monk, and committed no turnovers.

Amassing 2, 007 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 about our secondary the last two games to have nine interceptions, ” Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. “ 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 3- and 1-yard touchdown runs.

McFadden’s second touchdown was preceded by cornerback Matterral 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 very calm and poised and did everything the right way, ” Nutt said.

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 MSSC 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. Hillis’ beautiful 25-yard sideline reception of Emert’s likewise pretty pass netted a first down at the 2 before Arkansas scored.

Hillis accounted for 92 yards total offense (6 catches for 77 yards and 2 carries for 15 yards ) and was voted the Crip Hall Award as Arkansas’ outstanding senior in the homecoming game.

“ It’s a huge honor especially coming from Arkansas, ” Hillis said of the award. “ I look at big now but I know I’ll look at it big 20 or 30 years from now because it’s part of history. ”

And Emert helped Hillis make that history, also connecting 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. ”

FIU quarterback Wayne Younger (14 carries for 124 yards ) led all rushers, including Arkansas superstar tailbacks McFadden (19 carries for 61 yards ) and Felix Jones (17 totes for 89 yards ) accounted for the Golden Panther’s touchdown with a 33-yard strike to Greg Ellingson with 5: 04 left in the half.

Cornerback Michael Grant, beaten by Ellingson’s TD catch, intercepted a Younger pass to set up Emert’s 13-yard to Monk.

On a 20-yard quarterback draw and two scrambles of 16 and 12 yards, Younger led FIU on a 10-play drive with Chris Abed kicking a 35-yard field goal on the half’s last play.

Younger netted 110 yards on 7 carries at the half but only netted 14 yards rushing the second half as Arkansas defensive coordinator Reggie Herring’s crew adjusted under their coach’s pressure.

“ He was one of the best running quarterbacks we’ve seen, ” Arkansas senior linebacker Weston Dacus said. “ But we got a pretty good chewing by Coach Herring at halftime and did a lot better job in the second half and making plays. ”

Emert quarterbacking a 10-play drive consuming 6: 06 to start the second half with Tejada’s 42-yard field goal, “ took away their hope, ” Nutt said of FIU’s momentum to end the first half.

Tejada kicked a 20-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. And Felix Jones, on a 16-yard run, McFadden from the 2 and reserve running back Michael Smith’s 81-yard run with 47 seconds left accounted for the secondhalf touchdowns.