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Washington State comeback tops Utah, 28-27

By WTOP Staff

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Connor Halliday threw for 417 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winning score to Vince Mayle, and Washington State overcame a 17-point halftime deficit to shock Utah 28-27 on Saturday night.

Rain fell steadily throughout but Halliday heated up in the second half, throwing for 267 yards in the final two quarters and the WSU defense came up with key stops to give the Cougars (2-3, 1-1 Pac-12) a big road victory.

On a drive they started on their own 8, Halliday connected with Mayle in full stride across the middle. Mayle, who had eight receptions for 120 yards, sped untouched 81 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 4:58 remaining.

On the ensuing possession, the Utes (3-1, 0-1 Pac-12) converted one fourth down on a Devontae Booker run but Charleston White broke up a long pass to give the ball back to the Cougars at the WSU 49 with 2:30 play.

Aided by two timeouts, the Utah defense held and the Cougars punted after consuming just 1:04. Again, White broke up a fourth-down pass intended for receiver Dres Anderson, who didn’t have a catch after compiling 252 in the first three games.

In stark contrast to Halliday, Utah’s Travis Wilson completed 18 of 38 passes for 165 and consistently overthrew receivers or rifled the ball too hard.  Booker rushed 24 times for 178 yards but the Cougars outgained the Utes 495-357.

One week after falling just short to No. 2 Oregon (38-31), the Cougars saved their best for last against the previously unbeaten Utes.

On fourth-and-14, Halliday waited for Williams to clear to the back of the end for a 20-yard touchdown with 8:08 to play. Halliday and his coach, Mike Leach, who is known for taking risks, scored two TDs on fourth-and-long situations.

Jason Fanaika, who spent much of the game in the WSU backfield, wrestled away a loose ball after it slipped out of Halliday’s hands just before he wound up to throw a pass. Halliday had completed eight straight passes before the rain-soaked ball squirted up into the air and glanced off the quarterback’s helmet and onto the ground.

The Ute offense, on the other hand, sputtered when the ball wasn’t in Booker’s hands but moved enough for Andy Phillips to kick a 43-yard field goal with 14:13 remaining to make it 27-14 for Utah but the Utes couldn’t get close enough again to get Phillips a chance at a game-winner.

After a fumble recovery by Kache Palacio in the third quarter, Halliday finally looked like he was in rhythm and marched the Cougars down the field with passes to the right, left and middle. Halliday hit Mayle on a 11-yard touchdown strike to draw WSU to 24-14.

Halliday escaped the Ute rush on fourth-down-and-9 and lofted a 35-yard touchdown pass to Dom Williams with 6:54 left until halftime. Phillips added a 46-yard field goal with five seconds remaining in the second quarter and the Utes looked to be in command with a 24-7 lead at halftime.

Eric Rowe jumped a quick slant, grabbed a tipped ball for an interception and returned it 11 yards for Utah’s first touchdown of the game with 10:01 left in the first quarter.

After stopping the Cougar offense again, Kaelin Clay shed a tackle near the sideline and then sped across the field and down the other sideline for a 58-yard TD return. The scintillating run marked his third punt return for a touchdown this season which ties Steve Smith’s record set in 1999.

The Utes scored again when Booker scampered 76 yards for a touchdown and made it 21-0 in the first quarter.

165 and consistently overthrew receivers or rifled the ball too hard.  Booker rushed 24 times for 178 yards but the Cougars outgained the Utes 495-357.

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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