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Gurley leads No. 12 Georgia to 35-32 win over Vols

By WTOP Staff

PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Todd Gurley shook off a couple of defenders in the backfield, built up speed down the sideline, and saw another would-be tackler in his path.

The Georgia running back could’ve lowered a shoulder. He could’ve stepped out of bounds. Instead, he channeled his former days as a high school hurdler.

Up and over he went.

“I don’t know how high Todd got on that thing,” coach Mark Richt marveled. “That was pretty impressive to see right there in front of you. You just shake your head and go, ‘Wow.'”

There were plenty of wow moments Saturday, and the No. 12 Bulldogs needed every one of them. Gurley rushed for a career-high 208 yards and two touchdowns, including a 51-yarder in the fourth quarter, as Georgia held off gritty Tennessee for a 35-32 victory.

The lackluster Bulldogs (3-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) struggled mightily with the Volunteers for the second year in a row. Tennessee (2-2, 0-1) wouldn’t quit, even after Jalen Hurd fumbled a handoff and Josh Dawson fell on it in the end zone for a Georgia touchdown with 4:27 remaining.

Having Gurley made all the difference. This was a performance that will ramp up his Heisman hopes even more, eclipsing his previous career high of 198 yards in a season-opening victory over Clemson.

His scoring burst down the middle of the field with 9:31 left was huge, giving Georgia a 28-17 lead. But it was that 26-yard run — the one where he took the high road — that left everyone amazed.

For Gurley, a champion hurdler in high school, it was no big deal.

“It’s cool to look at those plays,” he said. “But I like to look at the stuff that I didn’t do right. I had several plays that maybe could’ve been touchdowns. I need to get better on that.”

He’ll get no complaints from the Bulldogs, who rallied from an early 10-0 deficit to beat Tennessee for the fifth year in a row, matching their longest winning streak in the series.

“It’s pretty special,” said Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason, who had a rough afternoon. “He’s just a big freak running around out there with a lot of athletic ability.”

Tennessee has lost 21 straight road games against ranked teams. The Vols might have pulled off the upset if senior quarterback Justin Worley had not been sidelined for three possessions in the second half with an elbow injury.

Worley completed 23 of 35 for 264 yards and three touchdowns, leading a pair of touchdown drives after he re-entered the game in the final period.

“He’s a tough leader,” teammate Jason Croom said. “He can play through anything.”

Worley hooked up with Pig Howard on a 31-yard touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion pass. Worley then went to Marquez North for a 6-yard score that pulled the Vols within a field goal with 2:14 remaining.

But Georgia recovered an onside kick and Gurley, appropriately enough, picked up the clinching first down on his 28th and final carry of the game.

With that, the Bulldogs breathed a big sigh of relief, much like they did a year ago when the Vols took them overtime in Knoxville before losing 34-31.

Tennessee jumped ahead on Aaron Medley’s 46-yard field goal and a 1-yard touchdown by Hurd, who finished with 119 yards on the ground.

The Bulldogs appeared to be in control after three straight touchdowns put them ahead 21-10. Mason scored on a 3-yard bootleg, Gurley scored his first TD with a Herschel Walker-like leap over a pile at the goal line for a 1-yard score, and freshman Nick Chubb hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass with just 1:17 left in the half.

The Vols, in a sign of things to come, raced down the field on an 83-yard drive that took less than a minute, capped off by Worley’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Croom that made it 21-17 at the break.

Both teams were sluggish in the third quarter, the Bulldogs curiously attempting to open up their passing game without much success, while Tennessee staggered after Worley left the game after slamming his elbow off a Georgia player’s helmet while throwing a pass. Backup Nathan Peterman botched an attempted handoff with Marlin Lane, ruining a drive for a possible go-ahead touchdown, and was called for intentional grounding.

Mason threw for just 147 yards and had his first two interceptions of the season.

X-rays on Worley’s elbow were negative and he returned to the game in the fourth, setting up a wild finish in which the teams kept trading touchdowns before the clock finally ran out.

“This was very disappointing,” said Butch Jones, Tennessee’s second-year coach. “Every individual in this organization believed we were going to win.”

___

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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