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Todd Gurley leads Georgia past Clemson 45-21

By WTOP Staff

PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Todd Gurley felt strong and healthy.

Boy, did it show.

In a performance that will surely cast him as an early favorite for the Heisman Trophy, Gurley scored four touchdowns and set a school record with 293 all-purpose yards, leading No. 12 Georgia to a 45-21 victory over No. 16 Clemson on Saturday night.

“I think he’s the best player in America,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said, “or at least one of them.”

Gurley ran for 198 yards and three touchdowns. He returned a kickoff 100 yards for another score. He made the most of his limited touches on a sweltering night between the hedges, averaging 17.2 yards every time he got his hands on the ball and breaking Rodney Hampton’s mark of 290 all-purpose yards, set in 1987.

“Hopefully I can get better,” Gurley said. “I don’t want to stay the same every week. That’s not a good thing.”

The junior running back is looking to shine after an injury-plagued sophomore campaign. He sustained a quadriceps injury that limited his carries in a season-opening loss to Clemson; later in the year, a sprained ankle caused him to miss three games and left him just shy of 1,000 yards rushing.

There was nothing to fret about at the start of 2014.

“Having those nagging leg injuries, man, that holds you back,” Gurley said. “I didn’t have those tonight. It’s always good to start the season off healthy.”

Georgia broke open a game that was tied 21-all at halftime, shutting down Clemson and a fast-break offense that didn’t look nearly as effective without two of its departed stars, record-setting quarterback Tajh Boyd and receiver Sammy Watkins. The Tigers were held to one first down and 15 yards in the second half.

“We’ve got to prepare harder and get better,” said Cole Stoudt, Clemson’s new quarterback. “I’ve got to keep improving myself and get better.”

Hutson Mason turned in a nondescript performance in the first game of his only full season as Georgia’s starting quarterback. The fifth-year senior, an understudy to Aaron Murray throughout his career, completed 18-of-26 for 131 yards and didn’t do much damage downfield without speedy receivers Malcolm Mitchell and Justin Scott-Wesley.

It didn’t really matter. Gurley pretty much finished off Clemson by himself.

He got rolling with a 23-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Then he electrified the crowd of more than 92,000 by taking a kickoff at the goal line, bursting through a gap straight up the middle of the field, and leaving everyone in his wake with a stunning display of speed.

Mindful of Gurley’s injuries last season and not wanting to tire him out in the humid conditions, Georgia limited him to four carries, one pass reception (for a 5-yard loss) and that dynamic kickoff return in the first half.

The strategy paid off over the final two quarters.

Gurley just kept right on running like he wasn’t even tired, while Clemson found it increasingly difficult to bring him down. In the final period, he pushed Georgia to a 31-21 lead with an 18-yard touchdown run, breaking a tackle at the line and cutting to his left to reach the end zone without being touched again.

Then, picking his way through a hole with a hand on the back of a lineman, Gurley suddenly broke free down the right sideline on his 15th, and final, carry of the night for 51-yard touchdown that turned a game that was close most of the way into a blowout.

“Gurley was obviously as good as it gets,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “Gurley, and all their backs, were special tonight.”

Indeed, Georgia showed stunning depth in the backfield, also giving extensive playing time to Keith Marshall, coming back from a knee injury, and freshmen Nick Chubb and Sony Michel.

Grubb also scored in the fourth quarter on a 47-yard run that looked downright Gurley-esque, breaking tackles and pulling away from the secondary with a burst down the sidelines. He had 70 yards on four carries. Michel turned in 33 yards on six carries as the Bulldogs piled up 328 rushing yards on a defense that was supposed to be the Tigers’ strength, returning most of its front seven from last season.

Stoudt was just 15 of 28 for 130 yards with an interception, which will surely lead to calls for the Tigers to give more playing time to touted freshman Deshaun Watson. In limited snaps, he guided the Tigers to a touchdown with a 30-yard pass to Charone Peake.

“It’s never as bad as it may seem,” Swinney said. “For us, the season starts tomorrow.”

___

Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

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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