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| Columbus Aviators prepare for a game during the regular season at Historic Crew Stadium. (Photo: Gene Simmons/Ohsfbmedia.com file) |
"Be happy they fought for the rest of the season" -- Ted Ginn Jr.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — In the last game of the regular season, the Aviators will attempt to win and close out the season on a two-game winning note. Louisville is on a hot streak, having won its last five of six games.
The streak would continue for the Kings as they dismantle the Aviators 45-27 in the final regular-season game for both teams.
"Just really proud of the season they had," said Chris Redman. "What we've overcome! where we started at 0-3, to where were at right now, a lot of confidence, these guys really came together."
In an eventful first quarter, both teams made some solid plays.
Kings’ Eric Garror intercepts Jalen Morton on the first play of the game for a pick-six with 14:47 remaining to go up 7-0 early on a late throw.
In the next possession for the Aviators, they failed to get the first down and settled for a 58-yard field goal by kicker Jonah Dalmos to close the gap 3-7 with just over nine minutes left in the period.
Following the field goal and on the ensuing kickoff, they recover a fumble by Tyler Hudson and turn it into a touchdown from a missile pass from Jalen Morton to Keke Chism to go up 10-7.
Defense came up big for Columbus as they held Louisville to a field goal attempt that was blocked, but an infraction from the Aviator defense resulted in a reset of downs with 6:00 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Quarterback Chandler Rogers runs in the open field untouched for a 16-yard touchdown to reclaim the lead 14-10.
A melee on the field with Tae Martin and Eric Garror began to scuffle that led to the game being halted, and Dantzler was ejected for the remainder of the game for a flagrant personal foul, and both teams had the personal fouls offset.
That would set up kicker Jonah Dalmos for a 61-yard four-point field goal that tied the game up at 14-14 with 24 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The quarter ends with a 14-14 tie.
Columbus' defense gets it done, forcing a turnover on downs with 12:25 left in the second quarter to regain possession.
Jalen Morton is under a lot of pressure, as he is only 4-for-14 passing for 58 yards.
With both teams slowed down, the scoring of a replay of a 3-yard touchdown by Ian Wheeler was reviewed and upheld to give Louisville a 21-14 lead with 3:52 remaining in the half.
After a big downfield catch by Esop Winston Jr. from Morton, it would set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Tua Taua to tie the game for the third time, 21-21.
Louisville’s Winstead catches a big pass over the middle of the field that would set them up in Aviator territory as N’kosi Perry finds Isaiah Winstead on a 13-yard over-the-shoulder touchdown reception to put the Kings up 28-21.
King’s lead 28-21 at the half.
Aviators put together a drive that started at 12:28 that gave them a 49-yard field goal from Jonah Dalmos that pulled them within four points, trailing 24-28.
After a failed 4-play, eight-yard drive by Louisville, the Aviators managed to get three more points on the board, a 51-yard successful field goal by Dalmos that closed the gap 27-28, as this would be the score at the end of the quarter.
After a super challenge from Louisville, the Aviator offense was pushed back, resulting in a failed 60-yard field goal attempt by Jonah Dalmos, his first miss of the day, as they failed to take the lead with 10:04 remaining in the game.
Caught in a blitz, the Aviator defense had no protection as the Louisville running back Jaden Shirden ran for 17 yards into the endzone to pull ahead 35-27 lead with 6:47 remaining in the game.
Louisville would seal their fourth straight win heading into the playoffs after a 4-yard touchdown run by Jaden Shirden, which put them ahead 42-27 with 1:22 left in the game.
For the Aviators, they will end their inaugural season with a record of 3-7 in Ted Ginn Jr’s first season as head coach.
Top Performers
Louisville running back Ian Wheeler finished the game with 14 carries for 99 yards (61 long) and one touchdown.
Jonah Dalmos made 4 of 5 field goals, with a 61-yarder being the longest on the day for the Aviators.
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