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Mack runs for 275 yards, 4 TDs in USF opener

By WTOP Staff

FRED GOODALL
AP Sports Writer

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Marlon Mack rushed for 275 yards and four touchdowns in his college debut, helping South Florida come from behind to beat Western Carolina 36-31 on Saturday night.

The freshman scored on runs of 62, 60, 56 and 2 yards while matching the school single-game rushing record for the Bulls (1-0), who rallied from a 14-3 deficit to avoid losing its season opener to a Football Championship Subdivision team at home for the second straight year.

Troy Mitchell completed 46 of 66 passes for 374 yards and two TDs for Western Carolina (0-1), which has lost 22 consecutive road games. The quarterback scored on a 4-yard run and Darius Ramsey added a 2-yarder for the Catamounts, who led 17-16 before fading in the second half.

Mack’s second TD gave USF its first lead, 23-17, late in the third quarter. Mike White set up his third TD with a couple of long pass completions, and the 195-pound running back put the game out of reach with his 56-yard burst after Western Carolina pulled within 30-24 with six minutes remaining.

Mitchell kept it close by throwing fourth-quarter TD passes of 6 yards to Spearman Robinson and 5 yards to Terryon Robinson, who finished with 15 receptions for 121 yards.

After going 2-10 in their first season under coach Willie Taggart, including a 53-21 loss to FCS opponent McNeese State, the Bulls are hoping for a turnaround similar to one Taggart led at Western Kentucky three years ago.

Taggart inherited a program at his alma mater that had dropped 20 consecutive games when he returned to the Hilltoppers in 2010. The team won just two games that season, but followed with a 7-5 record that represented the biggest one-year improvement in Sun Belt Conference history.

USF, which snared the top recruiting class in the American Athletic Conference last winter, feels it’s poised for an about-face, too.

While Mack had an impressive debut, the Bulls also are counting heavily on White, who started the last five games of 2013 as a true freshman. The Bulls lost all of those six — finishing the season on a six-game slide — but he clearly was the most effective of four starting quarterbacks Taggart used a year ago.

Western Carolina, which has never beaten a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent, will close its season at Alabama on Nov. 22. A year ago, the Catamounts faced three FBS opponents, losing at Auburn, Virginia Tech and Middle Tennessee by a combined score of 152-30.

Their 17-16 halftime advantage was their first lead on a FBS team that deep into a game. The margin would have been bigger if Mitchell hadn’t made a poor throw to an open receiver in the end zone before Western settled for Richard Sigmon’s 33-yard field goal late in the second quarter.

White completed 9 of 26 passes for 181 yards and one interception. Mack carried 24 times in tying the USF rushing record set by Andre Hall vs. UAB in 2004.

Western Carolina, which played without five players who were suspended for the opener, haven’t won a road game since winning at The Citadel in October 2010. They’ve won four games total over the past three seasons, three of them against Division II Mars Hill.

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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