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No. 10 LSU shuts out ULM, 31-0

By WTOP Staff

BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — LSU’s Darrel Williams didn’t remotely generate the recruiting hype of fellow freshman running back Leonard Fournette.

For now, though, Williams is producing more points for the 10th-ranked Tigers.

Williams ran for two touchdowns, Fournette added a score of his own, and LSU posted its second-straight shutout, 31-0 over Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday night.

“Leonard’s going to get publicity regardless,” LSU quarterback Anthony Jennings said. “Darrel is doing a great job. Leonard obviously is doing a great job, too. But I think those guys, as a tandem in the backfield, they’re going to be unstoppable.”

ULM (2-1) kept the game close for one half, but the Warhawks’ defense eventually wore down while their offense managed just 93 total yards and six first downs against a Tigers defense that has been in suffocating form since the second half of their season-opening comeback victory over Wisconsin.

LSU, which beat Sam Houston State 56-0 a week earlier, has not allowed a point since yielding a touchdown early in the third quarter against the Badgers in posting consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1985.

“As a defense we take a tremendous amount of pride in shutting two teams out regardless of who the opponent is,” LSU linebacker Deion Jones said.

While the Tigers only got credit for one sack against ULM — by defensive end Jermauria Rasco — they forced numerous rushed and errant throws by Warhawks quarterback Pete Thomas, who finished 16 of 30 for 77 yards — just one week after he’d passed for 384 yards and two scores against Idaho.

“Man did we cover well tonight,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “Even in short throws we were covering well. I think the defense is playing dominant football.”

ULM coach Todd Berry credited LSU’s defensive play but was also critical of his offense.

“Offensively, we were just bad,” Berry said. “We just got our tails whipped on everything. We couldn’t get open. We couldn’t block anybody. … That was an embarrassment.”

Williams scored the Tigers’ first two touchdowns, first on a tackle-breaking, 22-yard run, then on a 1-yard score early in the third quarter. On both plays, he was lined up as a fullback.

Fournette scored from 24 yards out, but dispensed with the Heisman Trophy-like pose he struck after his first TD last week, instead tossing the ball to officials and finding teammates with which to celebrate. Kenny Hilliard added a short scoring run for LSU (3-0) early in the fourth quarter, giving him three TDs in as many games.

With the Tigers’ Southeastern Conference opener against Mississippi State coming up next weekend, Miles said he’ll be comfortable putting any of four running backs in the game, with senior Terrence Magee being the other.

Of LSU’s two freshmen running backs, Miles said, “They are going to be ready to play ball in the big games. … They are going to run with strength and confidence.”

Hilliard agreed.

“Both guys are really good,” he said. “Leonard is a little faster than Darrel. Darrel may be a little more powerful in the upper body, but both guys can really go get the job done for us.”

Jennings was 11 of 18 for 139 yards and was intercepted for the first time this season late in the first half. As usual, he had his most success throwing to Travin Dural. The pair hooked up for a 32-yard gain that set up Williams’ short TD.

Dural played less than a week after a car accident that forced him to miss a couple practices with stitches in his forehead. He finished with six catches for 79 yards, but was held out of the end zone for the first time this season.

LSU’s defense allowed only 44 yards in the opening half, when ULM managed only two first downs on offensive plays and crossed midfield only once.

That took pressure off of a Tigers’ offense that was a little slow to get going against the Warhawks, whose defense is loaded with experience and gave little ground early on.

The Tigers needed three possessions just to take a 3-0 lead on Colby Dellahoussaye’s 21-yard field goal. LSU went up 10-0 early in the second quarter when Williams bounced off tacklers at the line of scrimmage and broke into the open for his 22-yard score.

LSU wound up with 202 total yards in the opening half, but one scoring chance evaporated when ULM’s Mitch Lane made a diving interception on the Warhawks 14, keeping the Warhawks within 10 points at halftime. Lane finished with a team-high 14 tackles.

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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