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Luck has big numbers as Colts rout Titans 41-17

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Andrew Luck keeps ignoring the numbers.

The third-year quarterback has already racked up 1,305 yards, 13 touchdowns and topped the 300-yard mark three times — and there’s no indication he’s about to slow down.

On Sunday, Luck finished with a season-best 393 yards and four more touchdowns while leading the Colts to a 41-17 rout over Tennessee. It was Indy’s second straight win and its ninth straight victory over an AFC South foe.

“He’s in the zone right now,” coach Chuck Pagano said. “Anytime you go out there and play fast and you’re not thinking, usually the result is the numbers, you know the yards and touchdowns he’s producing right now.”

Luck is moving into historic territory. At this pace, he’ll shatter Peyton Manning’s franchise records for yards and touchdown passes in a season.

And he’s just getting started.

Over the last two weeks, Luck has thrown for 763 yards and eight touchdowns, hooking up with nine different receivers in each game. Add to that to a ground game that has topped the 100-yard mark each of the past three weeks, and it’s no wonder Indy (2-2) has won two straight.

The Colts have now won six in a row over Tennessee and seven straight at home against Titans (1-3).

“They controlled the ball and made plays,” Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “We had opportunities for plays and we didn’t make them all.”

Luck did a far better job of executing the game plan.

He finished 29 of 41 with one interception and avoided getting sacked. Reggie Wayne caught seven passes for a season best 119 yards, including a spectacular, spinning 28-yard catch for his first TD of the season on the sideline. Luck followed that with a 2-yard TD pass to Coby Fleener, which turned a 20-10 halftime lead into an insurmountable 34-10 cushion.

“It’s just the way games have gone,” Luck said when asked about his stats.

Here are a few more takeaways from Sunday’s game:

TITANIC PROBLEMS: Tennessee (1-3) still has not scored in the first quarter this season and has just two first-half touchdowns. One of those came courtesy of Luck’s biggest mistake of the day, an interception at his own 25 with 45 seconds to go in the first half. How bad have things been? Without Luck’s interception, Tennessee has scored just 13 first-half points this season.

DISPROVING THE DOUBTERS: Anyone who thought the 35-year-old Wayne couldn’t regain his form after tearing his ACL, should have seen Wayne making his acrobatic catches, the catches over the middle and converting third-downs into first downs. He passed Isaac Bruce for No. 7 on the NFL’s career receptions list and Henry Ellard for No. 10 in yards receiving. If Wayne continues playing this way, Indy’s offense will be tough to stop.

QUARTERBACK QUESTIONS: Tennessee starter Jake Locker missed the game with a right wrist injury. Nine-year veteran Charlie Whitehurst got a rare chance to prove himself, throwing a pass for the first time since the 2011 season. He didn’t perform badly, going 12 of 23 for 177 yards with one touchdown. He also led the Titans in rushing — five carries, 40 yards. But he threw an interception, had another completion fumbled away by Kendall Wright, took three sacks and was replaced by rookie Zach Mettenberger late in the game. Mettenberger also threw an interception, leaving plenty of questions heading into next week’s game against Cleveland.

FAST STARTERS: A year ago, the Colts were trying to overcome slow starts. This year, they’ve changed course. With the defense playing better and the offense getting in synch quicker, the Colts have held double-digit halftime leads each of the past three weeks.

SURPRISE, SURPRISE: Tennessee was caught completely off-guard when Indianapolis tried an onside kick in the first quarter. Griff Whalen recovered, and Luck eventually converted it into — what else? — a TD pass for a 14-0 lead. It typified Tennessee’s embarrassing day.

___

AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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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