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Benjamin shines in Carolina’s 20-18 loss to Bills

By WTOP Staff

STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Panthers are hoping rookie Kelvin Benjamin helps fans forget about the departure of veteran receiver Steve Smith.

So far, so good.

Benjamin, the team’s first-round draft pick carried over his strong play in training camp in his NFL debut with a spectacular 32-yard touchdown reception in a 20-18 preseason loss Friday night to the Buffalo Bills.

The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Benjamin turned in the play of the game when he raced down the left sideline, stumbled after contact with cornerback Stephon Gilmore but maintained his balance and concentration long enough to haul in a diving catch in the end zone from Derek Anderson.

It’s the type of play the Panthers envisioned Benjamin making when they selected him 28th overall.

“The whole time I was stumbling I kept my eyes on the ball and I followed it all the way to the ground,” Benjamin said. “In a split second I just stuck my arms up between the ball and the ground and caught it before it hit the ground. It was crazy.”

Rivera called Benjamin a young, dynamic player who is living up to his billing as the 28th pick in the draft.

“We knew he had big play ability and those are kind of the big plays we are looking for,” Rivera said.

That was a rare highlight for the Panthers offense, which played without Cam Newton. Newton was held out to further rest his ankle following offseason surgery. Rivera said he expects Newton to play Aug. 17 against Kansas City.

The Bills offense struggled, too.

Buffalo’s first-team offense reached Carolina territory on its first three possessions but managed just three points after being stuffed on a pair of Fred Jackson runs near the goal line.

Quarterback EJ Manuel finished 9 of 13 passing for 96 yards and rookie Sammy Watkins caught his first three passes of the preseason for 21 yards after being shutout in a 17-13 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday.

Manuel doesn’t seem all that concerned.

“We did a very good job at executing what we wanted to execute,” Manuel said.

Anderson finished 5 of 7 for 65 yards and a touchdown and twice did his best Newton impersonation by running for a first down on third and long. Anderson played three series, but the other two resulted in punts.

“We just need to be cleaner,” Anderson said. “Get in and get out of the huddle and see things better.”

Backup quarterbacks Matt Blanchard and Joe Webb struggled to move the ball.

The Bills reached Giants territory five times on Sunday but managed just one touchdown and two field goals.

It looked like they would score early against the Panthers, with Manuel marching 78 yards behind two grabs by Watkins — his first since joining the Bills as the No. 4 pick in the draft. But Carolina stopped the Bills twice from the 2.

“I was happy for him,” Manuel said. “I gave him a high-five and told him, ‘Welcome to the NFL.'”

Watkins said his chemistry with Manuel is getting better with each passing day.

“It’s building,” Watkins said. “We’ve got a long way to go, but at the same time we understand that he’s young and I’m young and we’ll get better.”

Buffalo’s first touchdown of the game in the second quarter was set up when Jarius Wynn sacked Blanchard and Manny Lawson recovered at the Carolina 28. Dixon scored on a 1-yard run to give Buffalo at 10-6 lead.

Carolina cut Buffalo’s lead to 13-12 in the fourth quarter on a 6-yard touchdown run by Darrin Reaves but Rivera went for the 2-point conversion — and the lead — and the Panthers couldn’t convert.

NOTES: Panthers backup kicker Jordan Gay missed a 33-yard extra point in the second quarter. The NFL is trying out longer extra point attempts in preseason games. … Carolina defensive end Greg Hardy had a sack in his first game since being convicted on two domestic violence charges. … C.J. Spiller had 22 yards on three carries for the Bills. … The Bills and Steelers will have joint practices Aug. 13-14 at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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