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Syracuse survives Villanova 27-26 in 2nd overtime

By WTOP Staff

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Punter Riley Dixon threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Kendall Moore on a fake field goal in the second overtime, and Syracuse stopped a 2-point try to beat Villanova 27-26 on Friday night.

“I’m an athlete. I’m a competitor,” said Dixon, who attended nearby Christian Brothers Academy. “It was pure joy when it went into Kendall’s hands. I’m living the dream.”

Villanova’s John Robertson connected with tailback Gary Underwood for a 9-yard touchdown strike to pull the Wildcats within one in sweltering conditions in the Carrier Dome. Villanova coach Andy Talley went for the victory with the 2-point conversion attempt, and defensive end Robert Welch stopped Robertson at the 4.

“Syracuse is a great team,” Robertson said. We played up to them. We played our hearts out and can use this as a learning experience.”

The teams traded field goals in the first overtime.

Villanova’s Chris Gough kicked a 25-yard field goal to tie it at 17 with 7:14 left in the fourth quarter, then missed a 25-yarder with 12 seconds left in regulation in the opener for both teams.

Syracuse quarterback Terrel Hunt was ejected for punching linebacker Dillon Lucas after a 6-yard gain late in the first half.

“The NCAA is getting tough. They want integrity in the game,” said Syracuse coach Scott Shafer, who indicated there would be no further discipline for Hunt. “It was the right call.”

Hunt was 10 of 17 for 94 yards and ran for 25 yards.

“I was trying to make a play on the ball and I guess he didn’t like the way I hit him,” Lucas said. When I rolled off him I felt a punch. There were no words exchanged, but maybe it was the way our defense kept pressuring him.”

Austin Wilson, a sophomore playing his first game for the Orange, was 11 of 17 for 89 yards in relief of Hunt.

Robertson, the Colonial Athletic Association preseason player of the year, was 16 of 27 for 199 yards. He ran 34 times for another 115 yards, accounting for 314 yards of total offense.

“I really felt like this game was going to be a 14-point spread, maybe even a 20-point spread,” Talley said. “I felt like our quarterback had to play great for us to even be in the game and he played great. He was the best quarterback on the field, he kept drives alive.”

Robertson eluded Syracuse defenders all night, almost singlehandedly leading the Wildcats to what would have been Syracuse’s first loss to an FCS team. Syracuse was the lone FBS team to not allow a 100-yard rusher last season.

“He’s the one I wanted meet (after the game),” Shafer said. “He’s such a good football player. I’ve been around football my whole life. That’s one gutsy son-of-a-gun.”

Wilson led Syracuse on a 13-play, 87-yard touchdown drive at the start of the second half, with Adonis Ameen-Moore scoring from the 2 for a 17-7 lead. Safety Cameron McCurry was called for pass interference on the drive.

“My teammates said, ‘Slow it down. Let the game to you,’ Wilson said.

Villanova’s Poppy Livers returned a punt 67 yards for touchdown, zigzagging across the field and down the right sideline, to cut it to 17-14 late in the third quarter.

Syracuse’s Prince Tyson-Gulley opened the scoring midway through the first quarter with a 65-yard run. Tyson-Gulley had 100 yards on 11 carries.

Villanova tied on Kevin Monangai’s 5-yard run in the second, and Syracuse made it 10-7 with 6:49 left in the half on Ryan Norton’s 38-yard field goal.

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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