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Iowa State better, still not good enough

By WTOP Staff

AMES, Iowa (AP) — At this point, even a narrow loss is a step forward for Iowa State.

The Cyclones played much better Saturday than they did in a 34-14 loss to FCS North Dakota State a week earlier. It just wasn’t quite good enough to beat Kansas State.

Jake Waters had an 8-yard touchdown run with 1:30 left to give the 20th-ranked Wildcats a 32-28 victory in the Big 12 opener for both.

Still a loss, but one that was more disappointing than discouraging.

“We’ve got to make a lot progress,” Iowa State’s Jarvis West said. “Obviously, you saw from week one to this week, we made a lot of progress on filling gaps and making big plays. We have the talent to do that and we’ve got to improve every week from here on out.”

Waters, from Council Bluffs in western Iowa, threw for 239 yards and ran for a career-high 138 yards to lead the Wildcats (2-0), who trailed 28-13 late in the first half.

On the winning drive, Waters followed a key 23-yard completion to Tyler Lockett with a 25-yard run with just under 2 minutes left. Waters then capped the 80-yard drive that took just 1:31 with his second touchdown run of the day.

Before that, the Iowa State defense had showed signs of being a unit that could hold its own, forcing Kansas State to settle for field goals on two first half drives and getting a big hit from freshman Kamari Cotton-Moya to step Waters on a 2-point conversion try that would that tied the game midway through the fourth quarter.

“As a defense, not even from the coaches, pretty much from the players, we stressed that we should fly around and have fun,” defensive end Cory Morrissey said. “Just celebrate plays and go make plays and then celebrate with your teammates. That’s what we did.”

West sparkled for Iowa State, which needs a big-play receiver after losing Quenton Bundrage to a torn ACL in the opener. The 5-foot-7 slot receiver caught a touchdown pass, threw a TD pass and returned a punt for a touchdown.

“With Q going down, we had to find another option,” West said. “Obviously it was me today to step up on the field and be a leader.”

It was a tough loss for the Cyclones, who led 28-20 in the third quarter when Kansas State’s Randall Evans ripped the ball away from West for an interception. The Wildcats then went 54 yards in 74 seconds, cutting it to 28-26 on a 4-yard TD run by Charles Jones.

Waters looked like he had more than enough space to tie the game on a 2-point conversion run. But Cotton-Moya — who was ejected from last week’s loss for targeting — sprinted to the hole, turned Waters sideways at the goal line and preserved Iowa State’s lead.

That seemed like it would be the game’s key play. But Lockett’s crucial reception, which held up upon review, set the athletic Waters up to close the game out with his feet.

“He’s a tremendous competitor,” Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads said about Waters. “Obviously, a smart football player. He knows the system and orchestrated it very well. Eighty percent of your team, their responsibility is to not get you beat. There’s 20 percent or less — probably less — capable of winning the game for you.

“Jarvis West is that for us. Jake Waters is one of those guys. He stepped up and got it done.”

Down 13-0, the Cyclones flipped things around by relying on West’s versatility.

West kicked off his career day with a leaping 17-yard TD catch. He then took a punt 82 yards for a touchdown and a 14-13 lead early in the second quarter.

“I saw (teammate– DeVondrick Nealy in front of me,” West said. “He hit the long snapper and then I just saw nothing but green grass after that.”

West capped a brilliant first half with a perfectly thrown 29-yard TD pass to Allen Lazard off a double reverse. That made it 28-13 Iowa State, thrilling a capacity crowd that once seemed resigned to defeat.

West is just the fourth player since 1996 with a passing, receiving and punt return touchdown in the same game, according to STATS LCC.

But it still wasn’t enough for the Cyclones and Rhoads, who fell to 0-6 against Kansas State.

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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