Columbus Aviators challenges continue with a 0-3 record, rally falls short against Dallas

United Football League pylon. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com)

FRISCO, TX — The Aviators are back after having nine days to prepare for the hot-playing Dallas Renegades, playing without their head coach, Ted Ginn Jr., due to an off-the-field infraction. Todd Haley gets the call for today's game. "I'm very comfortable in this position, I'm grateful for Ted having faith in me to do it," said Haley.

Columbus falls 28-23.

Aviators open up their first drive with an 8-play, 60-yard drive, and Jalan McClendon finds John Lovett on a short pass completion, and his second effort scores in the corner of the goal line. After a good 2-point conversion, they lead 7-0.

"I knew we were getting their best shot; we were a little lethargic in the first quarter," said Neuheisel.

After Dallas goes three-and-out on the ensuing possession, the Aviators set up shop for their second drive and possession of the game. The Aviators begin their drive at the 20-yard line.

After a failed 50-yard field goal by Ryan Coe, they hold the lead going into the second quarter, 7-0.

Dallas opens up the second quarter with possession with a couple of touches by running back Dae Dae Hunter, who explodes for a 30-yard gain to set them up in the red zone.

Austin Reed finds Deontay Burnett on a short pass for two yards for the touchdown. Ties it up 7-7 with 11:34 left in the period. 

The Renegades are picking up momentum on both sides of the ball after their slow start.

Jalan McClendon is throwing the ball well on the short throws, going 11 for 14 with 4:32 left, and set the Aviators up for a 53-yard field goal by Ryan Coe to put the Aviators ahead 10-7 with 4:26 remaining in the half. 

The Aviator defense held and regained possession and started a drive that ended with McClendon throwing an interception to Shaun Wade, who lateraled it back to Ajene Harris for the go-ahead touchdown of 17 yards. Renegades lead 14-7 with 1:13 remaining. 

A holding call on the Aviators, Alize Mack, turned the ball over on downs with 33 seconds left in the quarter. 

Dallas have four point advantage over the Aviators at halftime, leading 14-10. "I was really sloppy in the first half," said Reed. "Whether I was telling guys the wrong thing or making bad throws," 

Austin Reed and the Renegades open up the second half with the ball, after a couple of plays and 2nd and 11 and Xavier Benson is called for a defensive hold that gave the Renegades a fresh set of downs, and after using over nine minutes on that possessoin they get a 1-yard touchdown by Dae Dae Hunter to take a 11-point advantage with 5:56 remaining in the third quarter. 

Renegades lead 21-10, with Dae Dae Hunter with 62 of the total 65 rushing yards for the offense and one touchdown. "Dae Dae, he gives us a little spark, some quickness," elaborated Neuheisel.

A 15-yard personal foul on Kyree Woods with just over two minutes puts the ball at the 2-yard line, which would set up a backside throw from Reed to Emmanuel Butler for the score with 2:47 left, to go up 27-10. 

Aviators respond, and after six plays, they punch it in for the first rushing touchdown of the game to bring the score back to a two-possession game, 17-28, with 26 seconds remaining in the third quarter. 

With 7:45 remaining in the quarter, there were challenges from Renegades head coach Rick Neuheisel. He first wanted to question a reception by Tyler Vaughns that was called incomplete and stood, then he challenged the same play calling for a defensive pass interference, which also stood as a no-call.

Renegades are forced to punt. "I think our defense showed some fight," said Haley.

Late surge falls short for Aviators 

That may be what they needed as they march down the field with Jalan McClendon completing 5 of 6 passes and a couple of scrambles that set up a 2-yard touchdown reception by Antwane "Juice" Wells, they tried a 2-point conversion that failed, which would have made it a 3-point game, still trailing 23-28 with just under two minutes remaining. 

The Aviator defense showed poise, keeping them out of the endzone for the majority of the quarter. "The fourth quarter I didn't play very good," said Reed.

But with no timeouts left down the stretch of the game for the Aviators, the Renegades just ran the clock down to 3 seconds, and Reed threw a pass out of bounds to Emmanuel Butler to end the game and send the Aviators to 0-3 on the season. "Too many self-inflicted things across the board," muttered Haley.

Dallas (3-0) will be in Columbus on Friday as the Aviators host their second home game of the season. "It's going to be a rock 'em sock 'em game in Columbus," said Neuheisal.

Top Performers

Columbus Aviators:  Jalan McClendon  26 for 34, 214 yards, 2 TDs, 2 Int's. Tony Fields had 8 tackles, 3 solo.

Dallas Renegades: Austin 18 for 30, 142 yards, 2 TDs, and Tony Fields 11 carries for 62 yards, 1 TD.

**Remote reporting**