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NC State’s RB trio provides productive ground game

By WTOP Staff

AARON BEARD
AP Sports Writer

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Shadrach Thornton would love to have more carries for North Carolina State. So would backfield-mate Matt Dayes, another member of the Wolfpack’s three-man rotation at running back.

Then again, the formula has been good enough to build a productive ground game — though things are about to get much tougher.

N.C. State (4-0) leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in total offense and ranks in the top half of the league in rushing yards per game, though that production came against a soft opening schedule. Now comes a run of eight league games, starting with Saturday’s visit from top-ranked Florida State.

“We’ve got to go out there and pretty much do what we’ve been doing all year in the run game,” Thornton said. “And that keeps us balanced as an offense. You don’t ever want to be one-dimensional, especially against a team like this.”

Considering where things stood last year, coach Dave Doeren and his players couldn’t have hoped for a much better start to the season. They’ve already surpassed last year’s win total and have averaged 248.8 yards rushing, with three straight 200-yard rushing performances for the first time since 1994.

Thornton, a junior, leads the team by averaging 70.8 yards with five touchdowns. Dayes, a sophomore, is averaging 66.8 with three scores. Graduate Tony Creecy has started every game and is averaging 42.5 yards. All three are averaging at least 6 yards per carry.

None of the three have had more than 14 carries in a game this year. They also have been tackled for a loss just once in 103 combined rushing attempts.

Running backs coach Des Kitchings said much of the credit starts with blocking from the offensive line and receivers.

“Now it’s our job as the running backs to capitalize on that,” Kitchings said. “And the guys have done a good job of consistently capitalizing on opportunities when they’re there. That’s led to the results you’re seeing now.”

That production has been key for an offense that has improved significantly with the addition of quarterback Jacoby Brissett, a Florida transfer who sat out last year.

Last year’s team ran for 162.7 yards per game, the program’s best average since 1997. With this year’s team running even more effectively, N.C. State is averaging a league-best 502 total yards per game, about 100 yards more than last season.

Of the three running backs, Thornton is the best big-play threat and had a strong game against the eventual national champion Seminoles last year. The junior ran for 173 yards and two scores — one of 72 yards — in that one though much of that came after the Seminoles had jumped to a huge first-half lead.

The trio needs another strong day against the Seminoles to extend drives and keep Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jameis Winston on the sideline.

“We’re definitely confident about this game,” Dayes said. “We go into every game thinking we can win, no matter who it is. We’re going to play our football, our disciplined football, and we should be fine.”

___

Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap

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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