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Hoyer leads Browns to 31-10 rout of Steelers

By WTOP Staff

TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

CLEVELAND (AP) — Joe Thomas fought back tears. While center Alex Mack, his good buddy and fellow offensive lineman, was carted off the field with a broken leg, Thomas was overcome with emotion.

Later, the Pro Bowl tackle stood at his locker, his voice cracking for a very different reason.

For Thomas, this win meant more than any other.

The Browns had finally beaten the Pittsburgh Steelers — badly.

“It was special,” Thomas said following Cleveland’s 31-10 rout on Sunday. “I’ve been on the other end of this rivalry when we lose by three scores so many times. I’ve been through the hell of getting our butts kicked. It felt really good to finally be on the other end of it. It was a family win.”

Brian Hoyer passed for 217 yards and pulled off a rarity for a Cleveland quarterback, leading the Browns to a romp over Ben Roethlisberger and their biggest rivals.

Hoyer threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Cameron and improved to 6-2 as Cleveland’s starter as the surprising Browns (3-2) beat the Steelers for just the third time in 23 games. Cleveland hadn’t beaten Pittsburgh so soundly since a 51-0 shutout in 1989.

Hoyer, the hometown kid quickly turning into a hero, ran off the field to loud cheers and exited near a banner that read: “This Is Hoyer Country.”

And it’s only growing.

“I think the last time the Browns beat the Steelers, I was the backup quarterback for the Steelers that day,” said Hoyer, referring to Cleveland’s win on Nov. 25, 2012.

Ben Tate had two rushing TDs and rookie Isaiah Crowell added another as the Browns opened a 21-3 lead in the first half and rolled to the easy win one week after staging the largest comeback in NFL history by a road team.

Roethlisberger suffered just his second loss in 20 games against Cleveland. The Steelers (3-3) never found a rhythm on offense and their defense, missing two starters, gave up too many big plays.

“We failed in all three phases,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “We got to play better. We got to swallow this one and we will.”

The victory legitimizes the Browns’ turnaround and Hoyer as the team’s unquestioned leader. There were some doubts about Hoyer when the season began, and with rookie Johnny Manziel on the roster, it was assumed Cleveland would eventually undergo yet another change at quarterback.

Hoyer has put that talk to rest and made the dramatic Browns, whose first four games were decided by eight points, one of the league’s unexpected winners.

He finished 8 of 17 and still has just one interception in 149 attempts.

“It was a little boring out there for me at the end,” Hoyer joked.

Roethlisberger wasn’t as efficient as he usually is against Cleveland. He went 21 of 42 for 228 yards and one late TD, was sacked twice and threw one pick against Cleveland’s maligned defense. It was his first loss to the Browns since Dec. 10, 2009.

Tate’s 1-yard run with 12:47 left put the Browns ahead 31-3.

Really, it was over long before that.

Cleveland led by 18 at halftime, a 180-degree switch from Week 1 when the Steelers built a 27-3 lead and gave up 24 unanswered points before winning on a last-second field goal.

The Browns rammed the ball down Pittsburgh’s throat to take a commanding lead late in the second quarter.

Tate’s 8-yard TD run capped an 85-yard drive soured by the loss of Mack, who got his legs tangled in a pile of players on a running play. He laid face-down in the grass for several minutes before several Steelers — and all of his teammates — came over to console him. Mack, who signed a five-year, $42 million contract in March, gave the crowd a thumbs up as he was driven off.

Mack had played 5,189 consecutive snaps without missing a play, anchoring an offensive line that has played well this season.

Seeing Mack leave was a huge blow for Thomas.

“We have played every snap together for six years and you are finally getting the best of Pittsburgh, he deserved to be out there with us,” Thomas said. “It was hard to go on. It’s so difficult to lose such a tremendous player like that.”

Right guard John Greco, who had never played center during a game in his career, slid over and took Mack’s spot, and Paul McQuistan came off the bench. The Browns barely missed a beat without Mack.

Coach Mike Pettine has a team united in purpose.

“They believe in each other and they believe in what they’re doing,” he said. “We talk about being a team and they embody that word.”

NOTES: Browns DE Armonty Bryant departed with a knee injury and Pettine said “the news is not good on Armonty.” … Over the past six quarters, the Browns have outscored their opponents 50-10. … Thomas has played 7,242 consecutive snaps, not missing a single play since he was drafted in 2007.

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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