Skip to main content

Foxx punt return helps UConn top Stony Brook 19-16

By WTOP Staff

PAT EATON-ROBB
Associated Press

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — UConn’s Deshon Foxx returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown and the Huskies held off Stony Brook 19-16 on Saturday to give Bob Diaco his first victory as a collegiate head coach.

UConn’s Geremy Davis caught six passes for 113 yards and a 30-yard touchdown and moved into seventh place on the Huskies all-time receiving list with 1,980 career yards.

“It took us 10 weeks last year just to get one win,” Davis said. “A win is a win. These guys fought hard — defense, offense and special teams.”

The Seawolves (0-2), a FCS team that lost to Bryant a week ago, led much of the first half and trailed just 12-10 at halftime.

But Foxx gave UConn (1-1) a 19-10 lead in the third quarter when he grabbed a 61-yard Luke Allen punt that had bounced over his head, turned left, then reversed field and found a seam down the middle.

“He definitely outkicked his coverage,” Foxx. “I got a lucky bounce and when I was turning around I noticed that I had a whole lot of field to work with, so I just did what I can do and I had great blockers.

Stony Brook, which outgained UConn 300 yards to 223, put together a 14-play, 88-yard drive in the fourth quarter, capped by a 14-yard touchdown pass from Conor Bednarski to Will Tye. But the Seawolves failed to recover an onside kick and could not move the ball after getting it back in the final minute deep in their own territory.

UConn opened the game with a five-play, 40-yard drive that ended with a 42-yard field goal from Bobby Puyol, who added a 27-yarder in the second quarter.

Stony Brook took a 7-3 first-quarter lead after a punt pinned UConn on its own 1-yard line. Safety Max Martinez then stripped tailback Josh Marriner and Naim Cheeseboro recovered in the end zone.

The Seawolves added another field goal late in the quarter after Chandler Whitmer fumbled while cocking his arm, giving Stony Brook the ball at the Husky 20 yard line.

The Huskies had just 63 yards of offense before putting together a 70-yard drive late in the second quarter that put the Huskies up to stay.

Whitmer, who started for an injured Casey Cochrane, found Davis in the right corner of the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was blocked.

Whitmer completed 12 of 27 passes for 142 yards. He also was the Huskies leading rusher with 52 yards on 13 carries.

The Huskies also were helped by their kicking game. Puyol’s first field goal was the longest of his career, and punter Justin Wain averaged just under 42 yards on nine punts. Stony Brook was forced to start six second-half drives inside its own 20-yard line.

“The team today showed a lot of grit and grind,” Diaco said. “Our brotherhood shined through; our culture shined through.”

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote