by COLUMBUS, OH – The Aviators jumped out hot and survived late to improve to 2-4 on the season with a 24-17 victory over the visiting Houston Gamblers. It was Jim Tressell night at the stadium and the Aviators paid tribute to the legendary coach not only with a bobblehead, but a 179 rushing yard performance. That combined with zero turnovers for the first time this season, were the major keys to the Aviator victory.
They needed to play mistake free football and did as quarterback Jalan McClendon cleaned it up for 187 yards and a touchdown on 20 of 26 passing. The three headed rushing attack was led by John Lovett with 65 yards on 17 carries along with a score. Toa Taua had 42 yards on 6 carries while Zaquandre finished with 48 yards on 10 carries with a touchdown as well.
Tay Martin had his best night of the season with 6 catches for 103 yards. Antwane Wells had 3 catches for 21 yards with a score while Gunnar Oakes hauled in 19 yards on 3 catches and Keke Chism pulled in 2 catches for 24 yards.
The Aviator defense was stout tonight as they held Houston to only 164 total yards on just 34 plays. The Gamblers were barely out there tonight as they were dominated in time of possession by a 39 – 21-minute margin. That proved to be the biggest difference.
It was a promising opening drive for the Aviators that saw them convert a crucial fourth and 1 from the 31 with a 15-yard jaunt by Lovett. A few plays later they picked up a third and short from inside the five-yard line. Moments later it was Lovett again on a 3-yard touchdown rumble as he brought a Gambler in the endzone with him. It was nearly a dozen plays that took 8:20 off the clock.
On the ensuing drive it looked for a moment that the Aviator defense would get off the field before Gambler quarterback Nolan Henderson took off for a 37-yard sprint down the middle of the field as he eluded tacklers with some incredible speed.
Later in the drive it looked as though the Aviators would get another stop before Jalen White pierced them up the middle to move the chains. One play later the Gamblers cashed in with a Marcus Major 13-yard touchdown run to tie it. The game remained tied as we headed to the second quarter.
The Aviators wasted no time responding with a scoring drive of their own to start the second quarter red hot. This time they converted on a McClendon touchdown toss to Wells who took a dump off to the endzone from 9 yards out. It led to a stumble by Wells but he kept control long enough to break the plane for a score, handing the Aviators back the lead at 14-7 with 11:14 to play.
After a 34-yard field goal from John Hoyland cut the Aviator lead to 14-10 with 8:01 to play in the second half, the Aviators started their next drive with a blazing pass play to Tay Martin for 52 yards to set up shop at the Gambler 19-yard line. A few plays later it was White scoring from 8 yards out to increase the lead to 21-10 with 5:44 to play in the first half.
A 48-yard boot from Coe opened the Aviator lead to 24-10 to start the third quarter. Down 14, the Gamblers inserted Taulia Tagovailoa to try to spark anything on the offensive side of the ball. The move paid off when Tagovailoa found a wide-open Keys in the corner of the endzone for a 21-yard touchdown pass as the third quarter ended 24-17 Columbus on top.
Columbus had a chance late to put the Gamblers away but a 48-yard field goal attempt by Coe was short, breathing hope into the Houston attack. The Gamblers couldn’t get any closer however as the Aviators hung on for the 24-17 win.
Columbus improves to 2-4 on the season while the Gamblers fall to 2-4. Columbus next takes the field next Sunday as they travel to St. Louis to take on the 4-2 Battlehawks.
