Columbus Falls Flat in Season Finale

The first season of the Columbus Aviators football never really got off the ground

Columbus 27, Louisville 42

Last week, switching quarterbacks from Jalan McClendon to Jalen Morton worked for Columbus against Birmingham. It didn’t go as planned on Sunday. On the first offensive play of the game, Morton threw a pick-six. Louisville returned the interception for a touchdown and an early 7-0 lead. Columbus would answer with a field goal from Jonah Dalmas, but you don’t win by kicking field goals when they score touchdowns.

Morton would reclaim some of the fire he had last week. After a Louisville fumble, Morton led the Aviators to a touchdown in three plays. His pass to Keke Chism gave the Aviators a 10-7 lead midway through the first quarter. A Kings touchdown run would reclaim the lead for Louisville. Columbus wouldn’t let them have it for long. Jonah Dalmas would kick a 61-yard four-point field goal to tie the game 14-14 after the first quarter.

Second Quarter

The second quarter would see the teams exchange touchdown drives. Louisville would pull ahead 21-14 after a touchdown drive, but the Aviators would respond. A touchdown run by Toa Taua with 1:11 left in the first half would tie the game at 21-21. But the Kings weren’t done. They would get another touchdown and lead 28-21 at halftime.

Second Half

The third quarter was more Jonah Dalmas. Dalmas hit a 49-yard field goal, then a 51-yarder. This would get Columbus within one, 28-27, heading into the final quarter. But settling for field goals left Louisville with an opportunity, and the Kings took it. The Louisville running game kicked the door down, and the Kings would get two more touchdowns.  The Aviators allowed 205 yards and four touchdowns by the Kings. This secured their victory in the battle of I-71.

Columbus’ rough season comes to an end as the Aviators go 3-7 and finish dead last in the UFL. If Columbus gets a season in 2027, they’ll need to do better or risk having the team moved to another city.