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No. 9 Michigan State routs Wyoming 56-14

By WTOP Staff

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State’s record-setting offense didn’t score 73 points again, but it looked like it might in its final Big Ten tuneup on Saturday.

The No. 9 Spartans (3-1) settled for a 56-14 rout of Wyoming, completing their most explosive first four games in school history with a 50.3-point average.

“Very impressive start of the game by our offense,” Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said. “Really, the first six drives, every drive in the first half, resulted in a touchdown. You have 42 in the first half, tough to overcome that. Defensively, came up with three turnovers and a blocked kick, which is like a turnover, so big momentum swings in the football game.”

Jeremy Langford rushed for 137 of the Spartans’ 533 total yards, and Connor Cook was 6-for-8 through the air for 109 yards and two touchdowns, helping Michigan State score more than 50 points in back-to-back games for the first time since 1978.

“We’ve all been with each other so long, we have the timing,” Cook said of an offense that came together in October last year and helped Michigan State finish 13-1. “It shows in games.”

The Spartans have scored 174 points in three home games heading into a visit from unbeaten No. 21 Nebraska next Saturday night.

Tony Lippett had four catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, and Keith Mumphery scored on a run and a reception vs. the Cowboys (3-2).

Wyoming finished with 286 yards of offense but lost the ball on two fumbles and an interception, three mistakes too many against a team that is averaging nearly a point per minute at home.

Langford began the game with a 36-yard sweep of left end, reversing his field to travel more than 80 yards. Seven plays later, Cook bulled in from the 1 on an option keeper to open the scoring.

Cook got his arm loosened up on the Spartans’ second series, hitting Lippett for 18, 14 and a TD toss of 19 yards on a post route between three Wyoming defenders.

It was 157-2 in total offense when the Cowboys finally got a first down. They got more than that three plays later when Shaun Wick burst up the middle, eluded safety RJ Williamson and sprinted 57 yards to cut the deficit to 14-7.

Michigan State answered soon after on a 33-yard wide receiver sweep by Mumphery. And after Darien Harris recovered Colby Kirkegaard’s fumble at the Wyoming 29, Cook hit wide-open tight end Josiah Price over the middle to make it 28-7.

After Shilique Calhoun leaped to block a 42-yard field goal try, the Spartans went ahead by 28 points when Tyler O’Connor hit Mumphery on a slant for a 6-yard score. Three minutes later, Delton Williams’ 4-yard run gave the Spartans their first back-to-back 40-point games since 2007.

The Cowboys finished the first-half scoring with a 4-yard flip from Kirkegaard to J.D. Krill, capping a 75-yard drive. But it was Michigan State that had 332 yards by halftime, more than they had in three of their first four games last year.

After coming up empty on a push to the Wyoming 7 on their first series of the third quarter, the Spartans made it 49-14 on a 29-yard run by Langford and finished the scoring on O’Connor’s 12-yard scramble in the fourth quarter.

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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