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Nebraska hammers Fresno State 55-19

By WTOP Staff

Bu JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Tommy Armstrong Jr. threw a 70-yard touchdown pass on the fourth play from scrimmage and Ameer Abdullah scored on a 57-yard run on Nebraska’s next play to lead the Cornhuskers to a 55-19 victory over Fresno State on Saturday night.

De’Mornay Pierson-El added an 86-yard punt return touchdown and Imani Cross scored on a 62-yard run for the Cornhuskers (3-0), who enjoyed a lopsided win after last week’s narrow 31-24 escape against lower-division McNeese State.

That dropped Nebraska from No. 19 in the Associated Press poll to unranked. Since the AP poll expanded to 25 teams in 1989, no team ranked as high had ever dropped out after a win.

Brian Burrell threw a TD pass and scored on a 66-yard run for Fresno State (0-3), which had its 13-game home winning streak snapped and is off to its worst start since also dropping the first three games in 1998.

The Bulldogs are having a rough time in the post-Derek Carr era, getting outscored 166-59 by Southern California, Utah and Nebraska to open the season.

The crowd was a sea of red as the thousands of Nebraska fans who made the trip West blended right in with the home fans for a “red-out” at Bulldog Stadium. But the Huskers fans made themselves heard from the start with “Go Big Red!” cheers that drowned out the Fresno State supporters at times.

The Nebraska fans also had much more to cheer about with four touchdowns of more than 50 yards. The big-play barrage started on the fourth play from scrimmage when the crowd was in a frenzy with the Huskers facing a third-and-9 from their own 30. The Bulldogs allowed Jordan Westerkamp to streak upfield uncovered from the slot.

After Fresno State punted on its first possession, Abdullah raced for another score to make it 14-0. Abdullah finished with 110 yards on 19 carries.

The highlight of the half for the Bulldogs came on an odd play at the end of their next possession. They lined up to go for it on fourth-and-8, but Burrell dropped back and quick-kicked instead. Nebraska’s David Santos inexplicably batted the ball out of the end zone from around the 8-yard line for a safety that gave Fresno State its first points in the opening quarter all season.

But the Huskers still managed to take a 27-5 lead into halftime with help from Pierson-El’s 86-yard punt return. That one play surpassed Nebraska’s season total for punt return yards a year ago when the Huskers were held to 70.

Armstrong added a pair of TD passes in the second half, a 20-yarder to Cethan Carter and a 23-yarder to Sam Cotton to complete the blowout. Armstrong went 12 for 21 for 260 yards with three TD passes and 65 yards rushing.

Burrell went the entire way for Fresno State after sharing the quarterback duties the first two weeks with Duke transfer Brandon Connette, who was sidelined by a hand injury. Burrell went 30 for 59 for 241 yards.

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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