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Wolford leads Wake Forest past Gardner-Webb, 23-7

By WTOP Staff

MIKE CRANSTON
Associated Press

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — John Wolford shook off three interceptions to throw for 291 yards and two touchdowns, and Wake Forest used a stifling defense to beat Gardner-Webb 23-7 on Saturday night and give new coach Dave Clawson his first victory. 

A true freshman, Wolford completed 30 of 38 passes, with both scores going to E.J. Scott. Mike Weaver kicked three field goals and Wake Forest (1-1) limited the FCS’ Runnin’ Bulldogs (0-2) to 131 yards. 

After being held to three field goals in a lackluster first half, the Demon Deacons took control in the third quarter following a lightning delay of just under an hour. 

Wolford completed all six passes on the first drive of the second half, including a 10-yard TD pass to Scott to end a six-quarter drought without an offensive touchdown. 

Wolford’s 14-yard TD pass to Scott made it 23-0 early in the fourth quarter. 

Clawson celebrated his first victory after taking over for Jim Grobe in the offseason. 

Quarterback Tyrell Maxwell’s 5-yard touchdown run with 16 seconds left gave Gardner-Webb its first touchdown of the season. Paul Schumacher’s missed 30- and 40-yard field goals earlier in the second half. 

Wake Forest’s lone touchdown in a 17-10 season-opening loss to Louisiana-Monroe came on a blocked punt. 

And after a first half filled with miscues and costly penalties, Wake Forest turned to a hurry-up offense following the delay. Wolford thrived and showed confidence, finding Scott in the middle of the end zone with a lob off play action. 

It was an impressive turnaround following a hard-luck start. 

After leading Wake Forest to a 27-yard field goal on the opening possession, Wolford twice threw interceptions deep inside Gardner-Webb territory to keep a one-sided game in yards and time of possession close.

Kenyatta Dunbar grabbed a tipped pass at the 3 and later Chad Geter picked off Wolford at the 10 after another deflection. 

Wolford’s final pick, by Azziz Higgins, also came after a tip. The Jacksonville, Fla., native’s four interceptions in two games have all been off deflections. 

Scott caught four passes for 62 yards and Orville Reynolds rushed for 54 yards. 

After Weaver’s 37-yard field goal made it 9-0 with 14 seconds left in the first half, officials cleared the field and stands due to lightning in the area. 

The thunderstorm delayed play for 59 minutes. When it resumed, the final 14 seconds of the first half were wiped out, with play beginning with the second half kickoff.

And after forcing Gardner-Webb to a three-and-out, Wolford and the Demon Deacons finally started to click, providing hope Clawson can help energize a program that went 4-8 last season and led to Grobe’s departure. 

The Runnin’ Bulldogs, playing without all-Big South receiver Kenny Cook (hamstring) and linebacker Tanner Burch (shoulder), ran out of steam in their second consecutive game without a touchdown. 

Maxwell and Lucas Beatty combined to throw for 54 yards for the Bulldogs, who lost 13-3 to fellow FCS foe Furman in its opener. 

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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