Skip to main content

Johns leads Virginia past Kent State 45-13

By WTOP Staff

HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Matt Johns overcame two early interceptions and threw for two touchdowns and ran for one Saturday as Virginia pulled away after halftime to beat Kent State 45-13.

The Cavaliers (3-2) surpassed their victory total of last season behind their backup quarterback, who made his first career start with Greyson Lambert sidelined by a right ankle injury. His interceptions halted two first-half drives, but he led the way as Virginia took total command in the third quarter.

Kent State (0-4), coming off a bye week that followed a 66-0 loss at Ohio State, scored first and had Virginia’s defense on edge early, but wound up with five turnovers leading to 21 points for Virginia.

The Cavaliers, who last season took the ball away 21 times but managed to score just 13 points off those opportunities, have already forced 18 turnovers in five games and turned them into 65 points.

Cornerback Maurice Canady got them started against the Golden Flashes, grabbing the first of three interceptions in the game for Virginia and returning it 69 yards for a TD that tied the game at 7.

Johns hit Khalek Shepherd for a 25-yard touchdown, found Kevin Parks from 11 yards out and scored on a 1-yard run. Parks also scored on a 4-yard run, and Taquan Mizzell had a late 2-yard touchdown run.

Virginia led 14-10 at halftime, then blew the game open in the third quarter. The Cavaliers outgained the Golden Flashes 180-46 in the period, and got a 22-yard field goal from Ian Frye and TDs from Parks and Johns.

Johns put the Cavaliers ahead 14-10 with a 25-yard pass to Shepherd. It came one play after a pass interference call against Kent State gave Virginia a 10-yard gain and a first down, and set the stage for a bizarre sequence.

After a punt by the Golden Flashes, Johns threw an interception to defensive tackle Jontey Byrd, who was all alone, and Reardon threw one to Virginia’s Brandon Phelps a few plays later. But on Virginia’s third play after regaining possession, Johns was picked off by Malcolm Pannell in the end zone.

The Golden Flashes switched to Nathan Strock for a series at quarterback, and after an exchange of punts, went back to Reardon late in the half. He quickly took them from their own 46 to the Virginia 13, but on second down, Demetrious Nicholson intercepted his pass for Chris Humphrey in the end zone.

Nicholson was making his first appearance since Oct. 5, 2013, after an extended turf toe issue.

The Golden Flashes dominated early, going 78 yards in six plays on their second possession to lead 7-0. The touchdown came on a 45-yard pass from Reardon to James Brooks, who easily beat Brandon Phelps.

After a second consecutive three-and-out for the Cavaliers, the Golden Flashes were driving again until Canady jumped in front of Reardon’s third-down pass and went 69 yards for a touchdown.

—

Follow Hank on twitter at: http://twitter.com/hankkurzjr

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote