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Pearson powers Air Force past Georgia State, 48-38

By WTOP Staff

CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA (AP) — A 35-point improvement in points scored had Kale Pearson feeling good about Air Force’s growth.

Pearson was personally responsible for many of those points.

Pearson threw two touchdown passes and added two scoring runs to lead Air Force past Georgia State 48-38 on Saturday in the Falcons’ first game in a dome in 20 years.

One week after the Falcons’ 17-13 loss to Wyoming, Air Force had 539 total yards and scored on five of seven first-half possessions.

Pearson threw touchdown passes of 37 and 22 yards to Garrett Brown. Jacobi Owens ran for 122 yards and two touchdowns for Air Force (2-1).

“I think we’re growing as a team,” Pearson said. “Those first two games there were opportunities there we didn’t capitalize on. Today we took advantage of those opportunities.”

Air Force’s offense needed a big game to hold off Georgia State (1-2), which gained 549 yards and tried to rally with two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

“We knew the whole game their offense was powerful,” Pearson said. “They’re explosive.”

“I was kind of honestly nervous the whole game. It seemed they were making big plays every time I turned around. It’s nice to get out of here with a W.”

Pearson completed 12 of 15 passes for 224 yards to add balance to the Falcons’ option attack, which began the day ranked sixth in the nation in rushing.

The game was played at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons’ last game in a dome was on Sept. 27, 1994, when it beat Texas-El Paso at the Alamodome.

Nick Arbuckle threw for 414 yards, including two touchdown passes to LynQuez Blair, for Georgia State, which is in its first season as a fully certified FBS team and member of the Sun Belt Conference.

“We have a very good football team that just happens to be very, very young,” said Georgia State coach Trent Miles. “Young guys have to go through learning experiences and finally break that door down.”

Georgia State freshman running back Krysten Hammon, the team’s leading rusher, was suspended for the game for conduct detrimental to the team.

The Panthers cut the Air Force lead to 10 on Duvall Smith’s 1-yard touchdown run with 4:57 remaining. Georgia State then failed to recover an onside kick. Pearson completed a fourth-down pass to Brown to help the Falcons run out the clock.

“That fourth quarter being able to run some clock, being able to make some first downs, was something that we really needed,” said Air Force coach Troy Calhoun.

Pearson posted his second straight game with more than 200 yards passing. He threw for 226 yards in last week’s 17-13 loss at Wyoming — the most yards by an Air Force quarterback since Shaun Carney threw for 237 yards against Navy in 2007.

Air Force ended a streak of nine straight road losses against FBS opponents. The Falcons’ last road win against a FBS team was against Wyoming in 2012.

Owens’ 2-yard touchdown run capped an impressive opening drive for Air Force, which never trailed.

Air Force linebacker Jordan Pierce delivered two key first-half plays which helped the Falcons retain their momentum. Pierce stopped Georgia State fullback Jonathan Lytle on a fourth-and-1 run to end the Panthers’ opening possession.

With Air Force leading 14-7 early in the second quarter, Pierce’s interception set up the drive which led to Owens’ second touchdown run.

Air Force played its first game in the state of Georgia since losing at Georgia Tech in 1977.

Arbuckle threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Blair in the third quarter. The duo combined for a 13-yard touchdown pass in the final quarter.

Kyler Neal, filling in for Hammon, had 80 yards rushing, including a 25-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

The loss of Hammon to the suspension was significant for Georgia State. He ran for 126 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s loss to New Mexico State. Georgia State wide receiver Avery Sweeting and safety Bryan Williams also were suspended for the game.

The 86 combined points were the most in Georgia State history.

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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