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Colorado State rallies for 24-21 win over BC

By WTOP Staff

KEN POWTAK
Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) — Garrett Grayson threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Charles Lovett on a fourth-down play with 1:02 left, lifting Colorado State to a 24-21 victory over Boston College on Saturday afternoon.

Grayson completed 28 of 42 passes for 269 yards with two TDs for Colorado State (3-1) and Dee Hart rushed 10 times for 117 yards, including a 43-yarder that moved the ball deep in Boston College’s territory on the game-winning drive.

Jon Hilliman carried 24 times for 128 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Tyler Murphy ran for a score for Boston College (3-2).

Murphy, who entered the day leading all quarterbacks in rushing with 500 yards, carried 16 times for 79. He also completed 12 of 18 passes for 169 yards with an interception.

Trailing 21-17, Colorado State took the ball over at its own 10 with just over five minutes to play and moved it to BC’s 12 after a 43-yard run by Hart. On the fourth-and-12, Grayson had time in the pocket and found Lovett in the back right corner of the end zone.

BC led 21-17 early in the final quarter and was in Colorado State territory when Murphy was picked off at the 19 by Bernard Blake.

The Rams then moved into Eagles’ territory, but were held on a fourth-and-2 at the 38 when linebacker Steven Daniels tipped Grayson’s pass.

With temperatures in the low 80s and a hotter on the turf field, both defenses seemed to wear down at the start of the second half.

After Colorado State had a long drive to tie the game at 14, the Eagles responded by going 82 yards in 11 plays, with Hilliman’s second TD run of the day — a 5-yarder — pushing the Eagles ahead 21-14 late in the third quarter. Murphy converted a fourth-and-1 at the 7 before the score.

Jared Roberts’ 33-yard field cut it to 21-17 just 10 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Colorado State had taken the ball to start the second half and drove it 82 yards in 10 plays, tying the game on Treyous Jarrells’ 6-yard run.

The Eagles led 14-0 midway into the second quarter.

Former Eagles and current New York Giants RB Andre Williams, LB Mark Herzlich and DE Mathias Kiwanuka were on the sidelines and introduced to the crowd in the second quarter.

After BC’s second interception of the first quarter, the Eagles marched 80 yards in 11 plays, with Hilliman capping the drive with a 4-yard TD to make it 7-0. Murphy had a couple of big plays on the drive, hitting Marcus Outlow for 31-yard pass and running for 16 himself on a 3rd-and-10 from the Rams’ 20.

On its next possession, BC took the ball 96 yards in 11 plays before Murphy had his 7-yard TD run. On the first play from its own 4, Hilliman broke up the middle for 52 yards.

The Rams then got on the scoreboard when Grayson hit Rashard Higgins with a 21-yard TD pass late in the second quarter.

BC’s Alex Howell missed a 40-yard field goal attempt as the first half ended.

The Rams marched into BC territory twice early into the game only to have Grayson intercepted twice. The first time they moved to BC’s 35. On the second trip, they were prepared to attempt a 40-yard field goal after defensive back Bryce Jones’ catch was ruled out of the end zone, but a reversed call gave the Eagles the ball at the 20. The play was ruled a catch and touchback.

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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