2008 Woodie Awards
Emert takes charge, gets job done in Dick's absence
Derek Oxford
Issue date: 10/29/07 Section: Sports
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A sparse Homecoming crowd Saturday watched Arkansas defeat the winless Florida International Panthers. The 58-10 victory is the second time this season the Razorbacks have won consecutive games.
The win didn't come without a cost, though. Arkansas was dealt a serious blow early in the second quarter when quarterback Casey Dick took a severe hit from Panther defensive lineman Ashlyn Parker. Dick suffered a slight concussion along with some bruised ribs, but Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said he should be ready to go next week against South Carolina.
"I don't know the severity of the injury except for what they [Arkansas staff] told me upstairs," Arkansas offensive coordinator David Lee said after the game. "He had a slight concussion and some bruised ribs. That's all we know."
Dick's injury allowed for backup Nathan Emert to enter the ballgame, and the signal caller from Shiloh Christian completed the game for the Razorbacks. He connected on 13-of-25 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown.
"I thought he had a good first half," Lee said. "He heated up right away off the bench and threw a tremendous pass to Peyton [Hillis]. He put that ball right on the money. That 75-yard drive that he led us on right when he jumped in the game was really good."
Emert hooked up with Hillis twice on his first drive after Dick went out. Both balls went for first downs.
The second throw, a 25-yard toss to Hillis, put the Razorbacks on the Panther 2-yard line. Running back Darren McFadden added his second rushing touchdown of the quarter on the ensuing play to give Arkansas a 24-0 advantage, and they would pad it for the remainder of the game.
"Nathan did great," Nutt said. "He executed very well. He came in very calm, poised and did a great job of picking up his signals, and handled the snaps and the clock."
Emert's best ball of the day came on his only touchdown pass. He hit Marcus Monk for a 13-yard touchdown just before the end of the first half.
The win didn't come without a cost, though. Arkansas was dealt a serious blow early in the second quarter when quarterback Casey Dick took a severe hit from Panther defensive lineman Ashlyn Parker. Dick suffered a slight concussion along with some bruised ribs, but Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said he should be ready to go next week against South Carolina.
"I don't know the severity of the injury except for what they [Arkansas staff] told me upstairs," Arkansas offensive coordinator David Lee said after the game. "He had a slight concussion and some bruised ribs. That's all we know."
Dick's injury allowed for backup Nathan Emert to enter the ballgame, and the signal caller from Shiloh Christian completed the game for the Razorbacks. He connected on 13-of-25 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown.
"I thought he had a good first half," Lee said. "He heated up right away off the bench and threw a tremendous pass to Peyton [Hillis]. He put that ball right on the money. That 75-yard drive that he led us on right when he jumped in the game was really good."
Emert hooked up with Hillis twice on his first drive after Dick went out. Both balls went for first downs.
The second throw, a 25-yard toss to Hillis, put the Razorbacks on the Panther 2-yard line. Running back Darren McFadden added his second rushing touchdown of the quarter on the ensuing play to give Arkansas a 24-0 advantage, and they would pad it for the remainder of the game.
"Nathan did great," Nutt said. "He executed very well. He came in very calm, poised and did a great job of picking up his signals, and handled the snaps and the clock."
Emert's best ball of the day came on his only touchdown pass. He hit Marcus Monk for a 13-yard touchdown just before the end of the first half.
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