Skip to main content

Panthers crush Delaware in opener 62-0

By WTOP Staff

WILL GRAVES
AP Sports Writer

PITTSBURGH (AP) — James Conner rushed for 153 yards and four first-half touchdowns as Pittsburgh ripped Delaware 62-0 on Saturday.

Conner scored on runs of 7, 8, 1 and 19 yards as the Panthers opened the season with a victory for the first time under third-year coach Paul Chryst. Pitt pushed the overmatched Blue Hens around, outgaining Delaware 501-64 to post the program’s first shutout in nine years.

Chad Voytik completed 12 of 15 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns in his first start, including a 12-yard strike to sophomore wide receiver Tyler Boyd that gave the Panthers a 14-0 first-quarter lead.

Boyd, who set school freshman records for receptions and receiving yards last fall, left in the second quarter with a dislocated finger in his left hand.

Pitt will need Boyd if it wants to make noise in the ACC’s wide-open Coastal Division. His presence was hardly required on a day the Panthers dominated Delaware from the first snap to the last.

Chryst helped turn Wisconsin into a scoring machine while serving as the Badgers’ offensive coordinator 2006-11 by relying on a massive line. Finally settled at Pitt, Chryst is hoping to do the same with the Panthers.

The early returns were promising. Relying heavily on the 50-pound per man size advantage up front, Pitt controlled the line of scrimmage.

Boyd ripped off a 34-yard punt return to set the Panthers up early, and Pitt’s first touchdown of the season provided a blueprint for what Chryst hopes his team looks like in 2014. The Panthers needed four plays to go 41 yards, all four plays handoffs by Voytik to either Boyd or Conner.

Pitt’s second drive looked much like the first with a couple of short passes from Voytik sprinkled in. Boyd made a diving grab in the left corner of the end zone for Voytik’s first career touchdown pass and Pitt led 14-0 before the game was 13 minutes old.

Terrish Webb picked off Delaware’s Nick Hundley on the next offensive snap and four more Pitt rushes — the last a twisting 8-yard burst by Conner — pushed it to 21-0 by the end of the first quarter.

Delaware, a member of the Football Championship Subdivision, hoped it could hang around long enough to beat a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent for the first time since 2007 when current Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was under center.

It didn’t happen. Not even close. Pitt’s only real miscue came early in the second quarter when Kevin Weatherspoon muffed a punt and the Blue Hens recovered. Hurley, who grew up an hour outside of Pittsburgh, lobbed a pass to the end zone that landed in the hands of Pitt’s Todd Thomas.

The Panthers took over at the 1 and sent backup quarterback Trey Anderson onto the field to spell Voytik. No matter. Pitt covered 99 yards in eight plays — all on the ground — including a career-long 60-yard sprint by Conner, who was pulled down at the Delaware 3. It delayed the inevitable. Two plays later Conner was in the end zone again and the rout was on.

Still, Boyd provided a scare when he banged his hand on a tackler’s helmet while returning a punt in the second quarter. He held his hand while making his way to the sideline and was promptly taken to the locker room. He returned to watch the second half with his hand bandaged. His status for next Friday’s game at Boston College is uncertain.

___

Online: http://collegefootball.ap.org/

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote