Columbus Aviators (Photo by the Columbus Aviators and the United Football League)
The Columbus Aviators have finally gotten into the win column!
Columbus 28, Dallas 14
Early in this one, it looked like it might be more of the same for Columbus. Dallas’ fantastic quarterback, Austin Reed, took the Renegades down the field and got his first touchdown pass in the first five minutes. Dallas would lead 7-0 and would maintain that lead heading into the second quarter. Columbus then got on the board behind a touchdown from one of their best and most consistent players this season, ZaQuandre White. White and Columbus would have a big game rushing the ball as the Aviators chose to keep things on the ground. The Aviators tied the score, 7-7, early in the second quarter.
Dallas and their passing game behind Austin Reed would respond and retake the lead, 14-7, with his second passing touchdown of the day. For the second time, when things looked like they might turn against the boys from Ohio as they had in the first three games of the season, the Aviators responded. Jalan McClendon would lead his team on a 73-yard touchdown drive that would take 6:12 off the clock. A circus catch by Keke Chism would allow Columbus to finish the drive and tie the score.
14-14 at the Half
The second half was all Columbus. The Aviators defense would establish a no-fly zone for Dallas. The offense would continue to get things done, rushing the football. The offense would pick up where they left off to start the second half. An eight-play, 63-yard drive would be capped off by an unconventional five-yard Jalan McClendon scramble. McClendon would cough up the football at the goal line, but Alize Mack would be Johnny on the spot. The tight end would recover the fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. The Aviators would have a 21-14 lead heading into the final quarter after their third consecutive touchdown drive.
Late in the third quarter, the Aviators would start a drive that would make all of the football head coaches to lead Ohio’s teams in the capital proud. The Aviators would get on an 18-play, 97-yard touchdown drive that would be the heaviest blow yet to the Renegades. Toa Taua would finish it off with a two-yard touchdown run. Columbus would lead 28-14 with 6:33 to play in the game. Dallas would get the ball moving, determined not to go quietly. They would go 66 yards and be knocking at the door, but the Aviators’ Smoke Monday would end the drive, the threat, and essentially the game with his interception of Austin Reed at the goal line.
Headed to Houston to Dice with the Gamblers
The Aviators will head down to Houston to play the Gamblers on Sunday, April 26th. Columbus has established themselves as a team that wants to run the football, and they’ll try to do that against Houston. In the victory over the Renegades, four players rushed for 35 or more yards, and the team would finish the game with 47 carries for 202 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
