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New Mexico outlasts New Mexico State 38-35

By WTOP Staff

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Lamar Jordan’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Reece White with 27 seconds left lifted New Mexico over New Mexico State, 38-35, Saturday night.

The short scoring pass completed a six-play, 45 yard drive that featured a pass interference call against Lewis Hill, setting up a first-and-goal from the 8.

New Mexico State (2-2) led 28-24 entering the fourth, but New Mexico forced a punt and on the resulting possession, took it 54 yards on eight plays, ending in Crusoe Gongbay’s 17-yard touchdown run to put the Lobos up 31-28 with 8:53 left.

State responded. Tyler Rogers found Joshua Bowen from 10 yards out with 4:41 remaining to regain the lead, 35-31.

Jordan’s pass to Jeric Magnant fell incomplete, but Hill was called for face-guarding. After a short run by Gongbay, play-action froze the linebackers, allowing Reece to find a seam in the end zone for the game-winner.

Jordan was 3 for 3 passing for 16 yards and ran for 40 yards on eight carries. Gongbay carried 15 times for 134 yards.

The Lobos struck first with 52 seconds left in the first quarter on Jhurrell Pressley’s 47-yard touchdown run. On the ensuing drive, the Aggies went 67 yards on nine plays, capped by Tyler Rogers’ 18-yard scoring run to tie at 7.

New Mexico came right back with a 72-yard, 10-play drive that included a 23-yard run by Gongbay and concluded with Quinton McCown’s 27-yard touchdown run.

The Aggies tied it with 4:07 in the half, as Joseph Matthews hauled in fade route from Rogers one-handed for a 9-yard touchdown that was upheld upon review.

Rogers went 32 of 47 for 333 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.

But New Mexico still had a trick up its sleeve. With 1:49 before intermission, David Anaya took a pitch-sweep right, then pulled up to hit wide-open Magnant for an 18-yard touchdown pass to go up 21-14 at the half. Magnant caught four passes for 42 yards.

To start the third, the Aggies were forced to punt and downed it at the New Mexico 5. On the next play, Teriyon Gipson carried for seven yards but fumbled after being hit by Kawe Johnson. Andrew Allen recovered, and four plays later, Xavier Hall scored from 3 yards out as New Mexico State tied at 21.

The Lobos responded with an impressive 70-yard drive, highlighted by Clayton Mitchem’s 36-yard run, but had to settle for Zack Rogers’ 28-yard field goal to go up 24-21.

The track meet continued, as State went 75 yards on eight plays in 2:53, with Hall going 17 yards for his second touchdown run of the quarter.

New Mexico’s defense forced a punt at the start of the fourth quarter, and the Lobos’ offense went back to work. Starting at their 46, they went 54 yards on eight plays, setting up Gongbay’s 17-yard score.

As was the nature of this game though, State replied. Rogers hooked up with Teldrick Morgan for a 28-yard completion and the Aggies went 74 yards in 14 plays, with Rogers hooking up with Bowen for a 10-yard touchdown to give them a 35-31 lead, which was erased moments later when Jordan hit Reece for the game-winner.

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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