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No. 1 Seminoles rally past Wolfpack 56-41

By WTOP Staff

AARON BEARD
AP Sports Writer

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Jameis Winston didn’t sound worried about the fact that Florida State had to fight the entire way to stay unbeaten at North Carolina State.

Instead, the Heisman Trophy winner — returning from a one-game suspension — focused on how the top-ranked Seminoles keep finding ways to win when things aren’t running smoothly.

Winston threw for 365 yards and four touchdowns to help FSU rally from 17 down to beat the Wolfpack 56-41 on Saturday night, extending the nation’s longest active winning streak to a program-record 20 games.

Sure, the defense had fits trying to stop the Wolfpack and quarterback Jacoby Brissett. And the Seminoles (4-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) had four turnovers, three coming from Winston, to match their season total.

Yet after tough wins against Oklahoma State, Clemson and now N.C. State, Winston still believes his team is the best in the country.

“When’s the last time the offense and defense actually clicked on the same note?” Winston said. “I don’t know. We’ve got so much potential. We’ve got so much to look for. I’m telling you, that’s the most exciting part.”

Winston directed four straight second-half touchdown drives to finally put the reigning national champions in control.

Rashad Greene hauled in 11 passes for 125 yards and the go-ahead score for the Seminoles, while Karlos Williams ran for three scores — the last with 2:07 left to seal it.

On a night when both teams topped 500 total yards, Winston and the Seminoles won on the same field where they suffered their last league loss two years ago.

“We can take a punch and stand up and compete,” coach Jimbo Fisher said. “Now I’d rather start blocking and dodging some and playing, but there’s something to that now. I’m going to tell you what: that takes time. That’s a culture. That’s the way you think, the way you believe in each other and there’s a lot of inner trust in that locker room.”

Winston was suspended last week for making an obscene public comment on campus, then watched backup Sean Maguire lead FSU to an overtime home win against Clemson.

He shook off a third-quarter interception to keep the Seminoles pushing forward against the Wolfpack (4-1, 0-1) and Brissett, a Florida transfer who was on the sideline for the Gators during FSU’s last loss in November 2012. Brissett threw for 359 yards and three touchdowns, put up a couple of highlight-reel plays and turned much of the game into a quarterback duel with Winston.

“I wasn’t too much worried about him,” Brissett said. “I was just going out there trying to win the game and make plays, and it wasn’t enough.”

Playing its first-ever home game against the nation’s No. 1-ranked team, N.C. State led 24-7 after the first quarter and 38-28 midway through the third quarter after Shadrach Thornton’s 10-yard scoring run.

But Winston directed a quick touchdown drive, then capitalized on Brissett’s fumble by zipping the ball to Greene — and just past the outstretched arm of Jack Tocho — for a 42-38 lead with 3:24 left in the third.

Williams’ 1-yard scoring run pushed that lead to 49-38 early in the fourth, then Winston came through with two key third-down conversions in the final minutes after the Wolfpack kicked a field goal to make it a one-possession game — the last being a 20-yard run on third-and-11 with about 3½ minutes left.

Williams capped that drive with his 12-yard score, giving him a career-best 126 yards rushing as FSU won its 17th straight against an ACC opponent.

It was a frustrating finish for N.C. State considering its promising start. Brissett connected with freshman Bo Hines for a 54-yard touchdown pass just 18 seconds into the game.

Brissett later came up with a jaw-dropping play, ducking under the grasp of a Seminoles defender in the pocket then staying on his feet to break away from another near the sideline to throw an 8-yard scoring pass to Johnathan Alston for a 24-7 lead with 2:06 left in the opening period.

It marked the first time in program history that FSU had given up 24 points in the opening quarter, though the Seminoles closed to within 24-21 by halftime.

“They played their hearts out,” Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said. “There’s a lot of things obviously that we’ve got to do better to stop a team like that.”

___

Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardp

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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