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Ross helps No. 25 Washington edge Hawaii 17-16

By WTOP Staff

OSKAR GARCIA
Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — A win was about all Chris Petersen got in his coaching debut with No. 25 Washington. Questions about the Huskies’ offense will continue into next week after Saturday night’s 17-16 victory at Hawaii.

Jeff Lindquist completed just 10 passes while filling in for a suspended Cyler Miles, earning most of his yards on one long play. Lavon Coleman and Dwayne Washington split carries in a mediocre rushing game. And Washington punted on eight of nine possessions in the second half, every one except its final snaps to run out the clock.

“We didn’t play nearly as well as we think we can play,” said Petersen, who left Boise State to take over Washington. “I think it’s going to be a big wake-up call.”

John Ross scored on a reverse and a 91-yard catch, and Washington held off the Rainbow Warriors despite giving Hawaii repeated chances for the upset.

“It was real frustrating,” Ross said. “People might think I’m pleased with my first-half performance, but I’m not because we left so many points on the field, but we have to get better and we will.”

Lindquist threw for 162 yards in his first start for Washington. Miles was suspended for the game for his role in an offseason fight.

But most of Lindquist’s total came on the big play to Ross. He was 3 for 15 in the second half for 28 yards.

Asked whether he thought he did enough to earn another start, Lindquist said it’s up to Petersen and the other coaches.

“Obviously I want to do my best to help this team wherever I can, whether that’s starting or whether that’s supporting people from the sideline, but the cards fell how they did today and I want to see where that puts me next week,” he said.

Petersen said he would make a decision early next week.

Hawaii managed two field goals for the only scoring in the second half. It finished with 424 yards of offense.

“We had our chances both offensively and defensively,” Hawaii coach Norm Chow said. “We played with a lot of energy, which I thought we would.”

Washington’s defense improved after struggling early and spotting Hawaii a 10-0 lead on its first two possessions. The Rainbow Warriors lost the advantage in one quick second-quarter burst, turning the ball over on downs and then allowing the Huskies’ second-longest pass play in school history.

Hawaii’s Joey Iosefa rushed for 143 yards and a touchdown. Coleman had 78 yards rushing for Washington.

Both of Washington’s touchdowns came after Hawaii mistakes. First, Hawaii’s Ne’Quan Phillips lowered his right shoulder and hit Lindquist in the chest well after a throw on a fourth-and-9 play, setting up Ross’ 20-yard reverse for the first Huskies touchdown.

Hawaii turned the ball over on downs later in the first half on a trick play, with Marcus Kemp throwing a pass on a reverse that fluttered 2 yards short of tight end Harold Moleni in the end zone.

On the next play, Lundquist threw the ball 55 yards in the air to Ross, who covered the rest of the field himself. It was the longest play for Washington (1-0) since Jake Locker connected with Marcel Reece in 2007 for 98 yards.

The Rainbow Warriors (0-1) missed another chance to tie it or get closer just before halftime when Ikaika Woolsey overthrew Kemp streaking toward the end zone, and then Tyler Hadden missed a 40-yard field goal off the left upright.

Woolsey threw for 207 yards while running a scheme that included several trick plays. Iosefa had a 1-yard TD on Hawaii’s first possession.

Petersen was hired by Washington in December after eight seasons in charge at Boise State, where he compiled a 92-12 record, made bowl games each year and finished in the rankings six times.

___

Oskar Garcia can be reached on Twitter at http://twitter.com/oskargarcia

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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