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Georgia Southern runs like crazy but can pass, too

By WTOP Staff

ERIC OLSON
AP College Football Writer

Those Big Ten-record 644 yards on the ground against Bowling Green weren’t enough to move Wisconsin to the top of the national rushing chart.

Georgia Southern, in its first season as a full-fledged Bowl Subdivision member, is running for 365.8 yards a game compared with Wisconsin’s average of 359.7.

The Eagles have had three different 100-yard rushers through four games, with Matt Breida going for 187 on 21 carries in a 28-6 Sun Belt Conference win over South Alabama on Saturday.

Offensive coordinator Doug Ruse calls running plays on more than three of every four snaps. When he elects to pass, he has a quarterback who can deliver in Kevin Ellison. The sophomore attempts fewer than 10 passes a game, but he’s completing 62 percent for an average of 119 yards a game. The Eagles’ 11.2 yards per attempt is second nationally behind Oregon’s 11.4.

Other statistics of note after the fourth week of the season:

STANFORD ‘D’ GETS AN ‘A’: Stanford has shut out multiple opponents for the second time since 1973. Never mind that this year’s victims were UC Davis and Army. The 35-0 win over the Cadets was a continuation of the job the Cardinal has done on defense. Stanford has held the opposition to 20 or fewer points in 11 straight games and in 39 of the last 50 since 2010. The Cardinal is allowing 4.3 points and 204.3 yards a game, both national bests.

WHAT A DEBUT: This FBS thing seems to be working out for Old Dominion. Taylor Heinicke passed for 430 yards and five touchdowns in a 45-42 win at defending Conference USA champion Rice. Ricky Segers’ 25-yard field goal with no time left gave Old Dominion the win in its inaugural Conference USA game a week after it picked up its first FBS victory over Eastern Michigan. Heinicke has completed 67 percent of his passes for an average of 293 yards a game, with 10 TD passes against four interceptions.

TOP RUSHERS, PASSERS: Indiana’s Tevin Coleman had a season-low 132 yards in the 31-27 upset of Missouri, but he’s still leading the nation in rushing (189.7 ypg). He’s just ahead of UTEP’s Aaron Jones (182). Passing leader Brandon Doughty (486.3 ypg) of Western Kentucky threw for 593 against Middle Tennessee for his second 500-yard game of the season. Washington State’s Connor Halliday (475.3) is second after a brilliant 436-yard, four-touchdown night in a seven-point loss to Oregon.

STICKY FINGERS: Louisville safety Gerod Holliman followed his two-interception game against Virginia with two more picks against Florida International. Holliman made his first start against FIU and ran back one of his interceptions 32 yards for a touchdown. He now has a nation-leading five interceptions.

STREAK CONTINUES: Division II Colorado State University-Pueblo finished a length-of-the-field drive in the last minute to win their 40th consecutive regular-season game, 26-23 over Western State of Colorado. The ThunderWolves held Western State on a fourth-and-1 at their 3-yard line, then went 97 yards in nine plays. The ThunderWolves’ streak is the second-longest in Division II history behind Grand Valley State’s 48 in a row from 2004-09.

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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