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Cal hopes to get break against Washington

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL WAGAMAN
Associated Press

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Even though Washington is averaging more than 200 yards on the ground, California linebacker Michael Barton fully expects the Huskies to come out throwing the ball.

That likely means another shootout Saturday when Washington visits the upstart Golden Bears, who are off to their best start since 2008.

After an encouraging beginning in wins over Northwestern and Sacramento State, Cal’s defense has shown an increasing vulnerability against the pass over the past month. In the past three games alone, opponents have scorched the Bears for 1,709 yards through the air.

Barton, Cal’s leading tackler, doesn’t see why Washington won’t try to do the same thing.

“If I’m Washington and I’m looking at our film, they’re going to want to throw the ball,” Barton said. “That’s where the money’s been coming for other offenses.”

The Bears (4-1, 2-1 Pac-12) own one of the most prolific offenses in the country. They’re second nationally in scoring (50.0 points per game). Sophomore quarterback Jared Goff has thrown 22 touchdown passes with three interceptions while leading Cal back to respectability following a 1-11 campaign in 2013.

Goff passed for a school-record 527 yards and five touchdowns in last week’s 60-59 win over Washington State but was upstaged by Cougars quarterback Connor Halliday. Halliday set an NCAA passing record with 734 yards and six touchdowns, breaking the previous mark of 716 yards set by David Klingler of Houston in 1990.

By comparison, Washington quarterback Cyler Miles has thrown for just 623 yards and six touchdowns in four games since taking over the starting job.

The Huskies (4-1, 0-1) have relied more heavily on the backfield tandem of Lavon Coleman and Dwayne Washington. The duo has combined for 538 yards rushing while pacing first-year coach Chris Petersen’s methodical offense.

Still, Cal coach Sonny Dykes wouldn’t be surprised to see Washington go to the air more frequently against the Bears.

“They’re not historically a team that plays fast … but it wouldn’t surprise me,” Dykes said. “I’m sure they’ve got that in their arsenal.”

Here are some things to watch when Cal hosts Washington:

SHAQ SHIFTING AROUND: Washington linebacker Shaq Thompson is one of the top all-around players in the Pac-12. He’s already scored three defensive touchdowns this season and added a fourth when he scored on a 57-yard run against Eastern Washington. Now it appears that Thompson will add playing safety to his resume. “We’re going to move him around to get our best combination on there,” Petersen said. “It could be down and distance, could be team-oriented. Could be all of those things.”

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’: The Bears have scored 45 points or more in four consecutive games and are attempting to become the second team in school history to top the 50-point plateau four times in one season. Wide receiver Trevor Davis thinks Cal can be even better offensively. “I think we can score 70 in a game,” said Davis, who had a pair of kickoff returns for touchdown in the win against Washington State. “I’ve never been a part of anything like this before.”

THROTTLING DOWN: Barring a complete change in philosophy by the Huskies, Cal’s defense should finally get a breather this week. In their three previous games against No. 10 Arizona, Colorado and Washington State, the Bears were on the field for 311 plays — including 211 pass attempts. In contrast, Washington’s offense has only 377 plays all season.

GOFF GOING OFF: Cal’s soft-spoken team captain is putting up eye-popping numbers on a weekly basis and is on pace to become the school’s career passing leader. Petersen said Goff is comparable to former Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr, who now starts for the NFL’s Oakland Raiders. Owner of numerous Cal records, Goff needs only 10 more touchdown passes to break the school’s single-season mark of 31 set by Pat Barnes in 1996.

PACK YOUR BAGS: The Huskies are playing on the road for the first time since a season-opening win at Hawaii. Washington won its first three home games before losing to then-No. 16 Stanford on Sept. 27. Following the visit to Memorial Stadium, the Huskies face another tough test on the road against No. 12 Oregon.

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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