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Liufau throws for 3 TDs, Colorado tops UMass 41-38

By WTOP Staff

HOWARD ULMAN
AP Sports Writer

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Sefo Liufau threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns as Colorado overcame an 11-point third-quarter deficit to beat Massachusetts 41-38 on Saturday.

UMass had turned a 20-14 deficit into a 31-20 lead by scoring 17 points in a span of 2:54 late in the second quarter and early in the third. Then Colorado scored on its next three possessions on a 14-yard run by Christian Powell, and touchdown passes of 70 and 3 yards from Liufau to Nelson Spruce.

Colorado (1-1) survived a scare from the Minutemen (0-2), who dropped to 2-24 since moving to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2012. The Buffaloes bounced back from a 31-17 loss to Colorado State in which they led most of the way.

Blake Frohnapfel threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns for Massachusetts, which lost its opener to Boston College 30-7.

Colorado made its first trip to the Northeast since Oct. 1, 1977 when it beat Army 31-0. The next two games in the three-game series with Massachusetts are scheduled for Boulder in 2015 and 2021.

UMass was trailing 13-7 when Frohnapfel began connecting with 6-foot-7, 250-pound tight end Jean Sifrin, who became eligible last Monday after transferring from El Camino Junior College in California. A 12-yard touchdown pass and the extra point by Blake Lucas put the Minutemen ahead 14-13 midway through the second quarter.

After Colorado took a 20-14 lead following a 5-yard run by Tony Jones, the Minutemen started at their 30-yard line with 48 seconds left in the half. Frohnapfel led them to the Buffaloes 14 then lofted a pass into the end zone that Sifrin caught as he leaped between two defenders.

Massachusetts added to its 21-20 halftime lead by scoring twice on the first eight plays of the third quarter. Lucas kicked a 34-yard field goal before Randall Jette intercepted Liufau’s pass and Jamal Wilson scored on a 2-yard run on the next play for a 31-20 advantage.

The Colorado comeback began with Powell’s touchdown before Liufau found his favorite receiver for two touchdowns.

Spruce, who caught 10 passes for a career-high 145 yards, put the Buffaloes ahead to stay, 34-31, when he caught a 40-yard pass and ran the final 30 yards up the right sideline to score with 4:24 left in the third quarter.

His 3-yard touchdown catch gave Colorado a 10-point lead and UMass finished the scoring with a 6-yard run by Marken Michel with 2:55 left.

Liufau completed 26 of 42 passes, while Frohnapfel was 20 for 38.

The 38 points were more than the Minutemen had in losing their first five games last season when they were outscored 158-35.

Only 10,227 spectators attended the game played 90 miles southeast of the UMass campus in Amherst. The Minutemen are playing three home games each at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough and McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Amherst.

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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