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Arizona likely to key in on Oregon QB Mariota

By WTOP Staff

ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Sports Writer

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Last season Arizona went after Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota early and kept on hassling him.

Expect the same when the Wildcats visit the No. 2 Ducks Thursday night at Autzen Stadium.

“Last year, getting to Mariota early on in the game probably threw him off a little bit. It always helps when we come out on fire in all cylinders. But it’s a 60-minute game, and sometimes longer, so we need to try and keep the pressure on him and contain him the entire time,” Arizona senior safety Jared Tevis said.

The 42-16 rout last November was Arizona’s first over a top-five team since knocking off No. 2 Oregon in 2007.

The Wildcats intercepted Mariota’s pass on his first play from scrimmage, ending his Pac-12 record streak of 353 passes without a pick. Oregon’s quarterback would finish with 308 yards passing with two touchdowns but two interceptions.

Mariota wore a brace on his knee in that game and later it was revealed that he had partially torn his medial collateral ligament in a game four weeks before.

Much like last season before his injury, Mariota is considered a leading Heisman candidate. He has thrown for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns with no interceptions. He’s also run for three scores.

“When watching him on film, the first and biggest thing that sticks out to me is his speed,” Wildcats defensive lineman Dan Pettinato said. “He’s quick and I’ve seen him outrun defensive backs and linebackers. There are times when you’ll see him looking one way, and then he’ll end up escaping the opposite way.”

Mariota completed 21 of 25 passes for 329 yards and five touchdowns in Oregon’s last outing, a 38-31 victory over Washington State on Sept. 20.

Arizona also had a bye week after a dramatic come-from-behind 49-45 victory over California, won when quarterback Anu Solomon hit Austin Hill on a 47-yard Hail Mary on the game’s final play.

Here are some other things to consider when Arizona visits Oregon on Thursday night.

SPEAKING OF HAIL MARYS: The Wildcats practice the Hail Mary every Thursday but they don’t run it against a traditional defense because of the possibility of injuries. Arizona recently installed a new version of the play, but they called for the old one during the game against Cal. “We always catch it and we always celebrate,” Rodriguez said about running the drill.

FRESHMAN SENSATION: Solomon has 13 touchdown passes and three interceptions this season. Against Cal, he set NCAA freshman records with 89 offensive plays, 73 attempts and 47 completions. He finishes with 520 yards passing and five touchdowns.

THINK PINK: Oregon will wear special black uniforms with pink numbers, along with pink gloves, cleats and socks, to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness month. Special jerseys hats and T-shirts will also be available to fans with a portion of the proceeds going to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

FAB FROSH: Twelve of the Ducks’ 27 touchdowns have been scored by freshmen, with running back Royce Freeman and receiver Devon Allen with five apiece. Freeman, a true freshman, has rushed for 261 yards on 48 carries through the first four games, and Allen, a redshirt who ran track last season and won the NCAA 110 hurdles title, has 14 catches for 299 yards.

O-LINE WOES: With Tyler Johnstone, Andre Yruretagoyena and Jake Fisher all out with injuries, Oregon’s offensive line is unstable at best. The Ducks started true freshman Tyrell Crosby and former walk-on Matt Pierson at tackle in the victory against Washington State, and Mariota was sacked seven times. The bye week gave the newcomers a chance to get used to their roles. “You have to trust them up front,” Mariota said. “We have the utmost confidence in those guys and we’re going to roll with what we have.”

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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