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Memphis just misses upset of No. 11 UCLA, 42-35

By WTOP Staff

DAN GREENSPAN
Associated Press

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — The Rose Bowl fell into a stunned silence when Memphis safety Fritz Etienne returned an interception for a tying touchdown with 13:44 to play, giving No. 11 UCLA more that it possibly could have expected from its home opener against an opponent that went 3-9 last season.

The only people not surprised were the Tigers and their small section of fans in attendance, having nearly upset UCF and Louisville last season.

But they were left waiting for a breakthrough win against a marquee opponent once again.

Brett Hundley passed for 396 yards and three touchdowns, Paul Perkins rushed for two scores and UCLA survived a fourth-quarter scare for a 42-35 victory over Memphis on Saturday night.

“We got a score there, we got an interception, and the game was on,” Memphis coach Justin Fuente said. “Credit for UCLA to responding to that and going down to score. We just couldn’t get it down there again. They are so good up front on defense that it makes life so hard for you. They are just so athletic and big. It makes life rough.”

Thomas Duarte caught two TD passes and linebacker Myles Jack rushed for his first score of the season for the Bruins (2-0), who barely held off the underdog Tigers (1-1) despite 540 yards of total offense.

Etienne romped 17 yards for the tying score moments after Doroland Dorceus’ 40-yard TD run.

But Hundley kept his teammates calm in the ensuing huddle, and Duarte caught a 33-yard TD pass with 10:52 left. The Bruins’ defense made three late stops to secure their fourth straight win in a home opener.

Paxton Lynch passed for a career-high 305 yards and rushed for a score for Memphis in the schools’ first meeting, scoring the most points in program history against an opponent ranked in the top 11.

Brandon Hayes caught a TD pass and Sam Craft rushed for a score for the Tigers, who have scored 98 points in their first two games this season.

“If you judged them off what they showed today, I think it would be pretty easy to say they are a tough group that kept playing hard,” Fuente said. “We came here to try and win the football game, not just participate and look at the stadium or be in awe of the uniforms, but to go play. I’m proud of that. I wish we played a little bit better.”

Kenneth Walker III caught an early 62-yard TD pass as the Bruins’ offense bounced back from a weak effort in their closer-than-expected 28-20 victory at Virginia last week, which included just one offensive touchdown.

The Bruins had little trouble scoring at the Rose Bowl, but their defense struggled against the Memphis offense led by Lynch, racking up 469 yards.

“We stick together,” said Dorceus, who rushed for 86 yards. “We are going to keep fighting and keep fighting and keep fighting. It’s a Memphis grind, that’s what it is.”

Jack, the Bruins’ two-way star, saw action at running back for the first time this season, and he scored on a bruising 4-yard rush in the third quarter. The sophomore linebacker was the Pac-12’s offensive and defensive newcomer of the year last season.

Perkins rushed for a 17-yard score on UCLA’s second drive, but the Tigers answered with a scoring run up the middle by Lynch. Hundley threw a picture-perfect pass to Walker for another score, but Craft put Memphis back ahead after another fast-paced drive.

Duarte and Perkins scored on back-to-back drives, but Hayes caught an 18-yard TD pass to cap an 85-yard drive in just 1:34, cutting UCLA’s halftime lead to 28-21.

After Duarte’s go-ahead score, UCLA sniffed out a Memphis fake punt and returned it for a score — but it was waved off on a personal foul behind the play.

Defensive end Martin Ifedi did not play because of a leg injury, ending a streak of 22 consecutive starts for Memphis. Even without him, the Memphis defense sacked Hundley four times, with linebacker Tank Jakes accounting for two takedowns among his career-high four tackles for loss.

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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