The Columbus Aviators outlasted the Houston Gamblers 24-17, winning back-to-back home games, and improving to 2-4.
On a chilly Columbus night, which also featured legendary Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel bobblehead night, the Columbus Aviators hosted the Houston Gamblers. This was the second matchup between the two teams, with the Gamblers winning 17-13 in the first meeting in Houston.
The Aviators won the toss and drove right down the field. On fourth down and one, running back John Lovett picked up a huge first down, taking it to the Houston 16-yard line. As Columbus continued to drive, they received a roughing-the-passer penalty that went their way, putting the ball on the 2-yard line. Two plays later, Lovett would reach the end zone, capping off a 14-play, 72-yard drive that took 8:20 off the clock and made the score 7-0.
On the next drive, Houston’s quarterback Nolan Henderson picked up a first down on a huge 36-yard scramble, converting on third down. On the same drive, the running back Jalen White also picked up a crucial third-down conversion, which set up a 13-yard touchdown run by Marcus Major, tying the game at 7-7.
The ensuing drive, Columbus quarterback Jalen McClendon found his tight end Alize Mack for a 12-yard pickup, converting on third down. On the same drive, wide receiver Antwane Wells took an end-around to the 16-yard line. Then on 3rd and 3, McClendon found Wells for a 9-yard touchdown, capping the drive with 11 plays for 67 yards and taking 6:05 off the clock.
On the next Houston drive, the Gamblers picked up two huge personal-foul penalties, putting them in the red zone heading toward the end zone. However, their drive stalled, prompting kicker John Hoyland to hit a 33-yard field goal, cutting the Aviators’ lead to 14-10 with 8:01 on the clock.
On the first play of the Aviators’ next drive, McClendon hit Tay Martin on a 52-yard pass play that set up a 7-yard rushing touchdown by Zaquandre White. Columbus extended the lead to 21-10.
After Houston had a three-and-out, Columbus would take the next drive, pick up a couple of first downs, and later stall, which would take it to halftime, where the Aviators would take the lead, 21-10.
At the start of the second half, the Gamblers would make a change at quarterback and bring in former Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, and they would go three and out. Aviators would take over, and the drive would start off with a bang with 2 huge first-down runs by McClendon and running back Toa Taua. However, the drive would stall, but a 48-yard field goal by Ryan Coe extended the Columbus lead to 24-10.
Columbus would take over with 7:43 left in the 3rd quarter, bully the Gamblers’ defense, and drive right down the field, only to stall after McClendon failed to convert on 4th and 5 with 2:57 left in the third quarter.
On the next Houston drive, the Gamblers took over on downs, and Tagovailoa found Geor’Quarius Spivey on a 20-yard pass that set up a 21-yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to Lawrence Keys III, cutting the Columbus lead to 24-17 with 48 seconds left in the third quarter.
After the Aviators went three-and-out, the defense also forced a three-and-out with 11:26 left in the fourth quarter. With 10:08 on 3rd and 10, Columbus head coach Ted Ginn Jr. called a crucial timeout, then later converted with a huge 19-yard pass from McClendon to Tay Martin to extend the drive. Ryan Coe then shanked a 48-yard field goal, giving the Gamblers the ball with 5:29 left in the game.
Avaitors would force another 3-and-out after Tagovailoa took a huge sack. Columbus took over with 4:00 minutes left in the game. Avaitors would start the drive with big runs by running back ZaQuandre White, who picked up a first down and took it to a 2nd and 1, and McClendon would pick up a first down. White did take a 9-yard loss, a 5-yard penalty that would push them back and force a punt.
With 57 seconds left, Tagovailoa got sacked, making it second and long. The Aviators would seal a 24-17 victory, extending their record to 2-4. The Aviators hit the road next week against the St. Louis Battlehawks.
