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Kiel throws for 6 TDs, Cincy beats Toledo 58-34

By WTOP Staff

JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — Gunner Kiel was so nervous about his debut that he kept texting teammate Munchie Legaux, looking for reassurance in the days leading up to the game.

His debut was about as reassuring as it gets.

Kiel tied Cincinnati’s record with six touchdown passes on Friday night, and the Bearcats got a big early lead and held on for a 58-34 victory over Toledo in their season opener.

“He exceeded my expectations,” coach Tommy Tuberville said. “I didn’t think he’d play that well.”

Kiel, a transfer from Notre Dame, showed off his strong and accurate arm from the outset. He completed a 52-yard pass on the game’s opening play from scrimmage and hardly missed as Cincinnati (1-0) pulled ahead 34-0, throwing for four touchdowns in the first half.

Overall, Kiel was 25 of 37 for 418 yards with six touchdowns that matched Tony Pike’s school record.

“I came out real nervous,” said Kiel, who sat out a year after leaving Notre Dame and was criticized back in South Bend. “The whole week I think I had butterflies. We came out firing. All I had to do was drop back and throw it. We have some unbelievable receivers.

“For me, I think I silenced the critics. People were bashing me.”

Cincinnati scored touchdowns on its first six possessions, with Kiel missing on only three passes.

“Their quarterback made every throw,” Toledo coach Matt Campbell said. “We have some young guys playing in the secondary. Those kids battled back. I appreciate that. Our offense did what they needed to do and got us back in the football game.”

Toledo (1-2) rallied with three straight touchdown passes from sophomore Logan Woodside, who moved into the starting job after junior Phillip Ely tore up his right knee last week during a loss to Missouri. Woodside had touchdowns of 38 and 54 yards to Alonzo Russell, who got behind the secondary both times.

Jeremiah Detmer’s 36-yard field goal cut it to 41-34 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. The Rockets piled up 214 yards in the third, with Cincinnati held to minus-2. Part of the problem was that Kiel was getting cramps and couldn’t step into his throws. He left for the locker room late in the quarter to get intravenous fluids, then returned and stopped Toledo’s comeback.

He completed all six of his passes for 70 yards during a touchdown drive that put the Bearcats back in control. His 22-yard TD pass with 1:36 left got him a share of the school record. Each touchdown pass went to a different receiver, a sign of the Bearcats’ depth at the position.

“The talent we have in the receiving corps is amazing,” said Mekale McKay, who had nine catches for 175 yards and a touchdown.

Toledo gave up 41 points in the first half and couldn’t contain Cincinnati’s receivers, who often were wide open.

“Giving up 41 points in the first half is something no defense wants to be a part of,” Toledo linebacker Trent Voss said. “I was embarrassed personally and for our defense.”

Cincinnati was the last FBS team to open this season. The Bearcats drew 31,912 fans for the game at Paul Brown Stadium, their home this season while their on-campus Nippert Stadium is renovated.

Cincinnati has a lot of work to do on defense before it plays at Ohio State on Sept. 27. Toledo piled up 563 yards with Woodside leading a diverse offense. Woodside was 27 of 40 for 322 yards and three TDs.

Toledo’s best threat is sophomore running back Kareem Hunt, who has topped 100 yards in eight of his 15 games. He ran for 136 yards in an opening win over New Hampshire, and picked up 148 yards and three touchdowns against Missouri, running behind a line that features five seniors.

Hunt ran 12 times for 101 yards and a touchdown.

Legaux completed his comeback from a gruesome knee injury, getting into the game for the final series of the first half. He tore two ligaments and cartilage in his left knee during the second game last season.

Legaux was 4 for 5 for 18 yards during his one series.

___

Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay

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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