Columbus Aviators and Ted Ginn Jr. celebrate first game victory

Aviator's head coach Ted Ginn Jr. and team take the field. They won their first games as a franchise and as a head coach. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com)

COLUMBUS, Ohio — In week four of the UFL season, the Columbus Aviators face the Dallas Renegades in a back-to-back matchup, aiming to secure their first victory of the season for both the franchise and Ted Ginn Jr.

“This week was a re-structure type week, we came in with a lot of adversity,” said Ginn Jr. 

The Aviator defense showed up, only allowing 97 yards on the ground and holding the number one receiver to only 59 yards for the game, as all of that was in the second half, and gave Ted Ginn Jr. his first win as a head coach. “They had a good game plan,” said Renegades quarterback Austin Reed. “They did a lot of good things to cloud Tyler.”

Dallas begins the game with their initial possession, executing two significant plays to cross the 50-yard line after 6 plays, totaling 59 yards. Quarterback Austin Reed connects with Drake Stoops in the end zone following a scramble, putting them ahead 7-0 with 11:21 remaining in the quarter.

Renegades challenge spot at 7:01, and it was overruled in favor of the Aviators as they start on first down and 10 on the Dallas 47-yard line. 

Jalan McClendon’s two possessions with 3:48 left were a sack and an incomplete pass. The offensive coordinator, Todd Haley, went for it on a questionable 4th and 24 and failed to convert, turning it into a turnover on downs. And the defense does its job, making Austin Reed throw three incomplete passes with 55 seconds left. 

Toa Taua tries to balance himself before going down, he scored the on the next play to seal the win for the Aviators. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.con)

During the subsequent kickoff, kick returner Antwane Wells fumbles the kick but manages to regain control, discovering a gap along the sideline and dashing for 35 yards. The first quarter concludes with the Aviators behind 0-7.

That punt return eventually set up a 4-yard run by ZaQuadre White to tie the game up 7-7 after a successful point after by Ryan Coe with 12:16 left. “Y'all wouldn't even notice that this is his first time being a punt returner,” Ginn Jr. explained. “He having a lot of confidence and success.” As he talked about Antwane Wells returning punts. 

Reed and the Renegades answer back on the next drive, going 10 plays for 80 yards to go ahead 14-7 by connecting with Emmanuel Butler with 7:09 remaining. 

Tyler Vaughns, the leading receiver for the Renegades, has only managed to make three receptions in the first half, as he is being closely guarded by Cam Smith.

A pass interference call makes it first and ten at the 21-yard line. That call led to an Aviator touchdown, a backside throw for McClendon to Keke Chism, which was challenged by the Renegades, but stood as a touchdown as they tied it up at 14-14 with 56 seconds remaining in the half, that wraped up a 12-play 73-yard drive. 

Aviators and Renegades are all tied up going into halftime.

“I've been telling these guys for two weeks on the offensive side, if we don’t play, we don’t win,” Ginn Jr. said. Opening up the 3rd quarter, the Aviators find rhythm and strike with a quarterback run by McClendon that he fumbled at the 1-yard line, but recovered by Alize Mack for the go-ahead touchdown that takes it to 21-14. 

Emmanuel Butler scores on a 7-yard pass from Austin Reed in the second quarter. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com)

Aviators defense forces a turnover on downs with a big 44-yard punt return, negated by an illegal blind side block. 

As the third quarter commenced, both teams engaged in a defensive struggle, with the Aviators successfully maintaining their composure and preventing any scoring throughout the entire third quarter, even forcing an illegal formation with 2:02 remaining in the period.

Again, Tyler Vaughns was held scoreless, as Cam Smith limited him to three catches on seven targets and 25 total yards by the end of the third quarter. 

Defenses have been the focal point of the game, as the Aviators would go ahead by two touchdowns after having possession for over 10 minutes and take the first lead in the fourth quarter all season. 

A late-game interception by Smoke Monday sealed the win for the Aviortors inaugural season.

The Aviators (1-3) travel to Shell Energy Stadium to play the Houston Gamblers on Apr. 26. Dallas falls to (3-1) and hosts the Louisville Kings on Apr. 26. 

Top Performers

Columbus Aviators - John Lovett 15 carries for 81 yards, and wide receiver Keke Chism caught 4 passes for 50 yards and 1 touchdown. 

Dallas Renegades - J. T. Tyler with 10 tackles, and Austin Reed going 13-for-27 for 144 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception.