Running game, defense propel Aviators to historic first win
Friday, April 17, 2026
By Logan Morris
info@cbussports.com
Columbus Aviators running back Zaquandre White gains ground during their win against the Dallas Renegades at Historic Crew Friday. Photo: John Hulkenberg
History was made at Historic Crew Stadium Friday night as the Columbus Aviators earned their first win in franchise history, knocking off the previously undefeated Dallas Renegades, 28–14, in front of a raucous crowd of 8,729.
The victory also marked the first win for head coach Ted Ginn Jr., coming after a difficult start to the season both professionally and personally.
Columbus spent the first three weeks searching for its identity. On Friday night, it appeared to have found it.
The Aviators leaned into old-school, smash-mouth football, setting a UFL record with 47 rushing attempts. They finished with 202 yards on the ground, with John Lovett leading the charge with 80 yards on 15 carries.
Offensively, both teams came out strong. Dallas struck first, as Renegades quarterback Austin Reed led a 68-yard opening drive, capped by a touchdown pass to Drake Stoops. Columbus answered after a 40-yard punt return from Antwane Wells Jr. set up a one-yard touchdown run by Zaquandre White to tie the game.
Reed responded with a 40-yard scramble and a touchdown pass to Emmanuel Butler, putting Dallas back in front, 14–7. But from there, the Aviators took control. The highlight of the first half came when wide receiver Keke Chism delivered a highlight-reel, 20-yard touchdown catch at the goal-line pylon, tying the game heading into halftime.
Keke Chism (3) celebrates his touchdown reception at the end of the first half in the Columbus Aviators’ 28-14 victory over Dallas Friday at Historic Crew Stadium. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Reed was candid afterward, not only taking responsibility but also giving credit to Columbus’s offensive coordinator, Todd Haley, for the game plan.
“It’s on us to change some things and adjust. I thought we had a good game plan — I just didn’t make enough plays early in drives.
“When you’re facing a team like that, and a coach like Todd Haley, you know what they want to do. They’re going to control the clock and run the ball, and they did that really well. That’s on me to get us going early, and I didn’t do that well enough tonight.”
In the second half, Columbus separated itself physically, dominating time of possession. Quarterback Jalan McClendon helped spark the go-ahead drive, which ended in a chaotic fumble recovery in the end zone by Alize Mack, giving the Aviators their first lead of the night.
From that point on, it turned into a battle of physicality, one that Columbus would win handily.
The Aviators rushed for over 100 yards in the second half alone, controlling the clock and wearing down a Dallas team playing its third game in 11 days.
The deciding sequence would come in the form of an 18-play, 97-yard drive that drained nearly 10 minutes off the clock and exhausted Dallas. John Lovett powered the drive and Toa Taua finished it with a three-yard touchdown run to extend the lead. Dallas showed late life, but Columbus’s Smoke Monday sealed the win with an interception at the Dallas goal line.
The Aviators’ Henry Black brings down Dallas’ Dae Dae Hunter (0) during Columbus’s home win over the Renegades Friday. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Columbus controlled the ball for over 36 minutes in a statement performance, delivering a win that validated both the coaching staff and the locker room.
Ginn made sure the focus stayed on his players when it came to the franchise’s first victory.
“I want to celebrate with the guys. You know what I’m saying? They’ve been behind me, I’ve been behind them. Today just shows how much love, character, respect, and fight we have in that Aviators locker room.”
Wide receiver Antwane Wells Jr. believes this win could be the start of something bigger.
“I feel like this win is a spark. It can lead to a lot of great things, but we’re going to take it one week at a time and keep working.”
He also made it clear the result didn’t come as a surprise.
“We’re going to enjoy it, but when it’s time to get back to work, it’s time to get back to work. Let this confidence roll into each week. We know what type of team we are; we just have to put it all together.”
The Aviators will look to keep that momentum going as they head to the Lone Star State to face the Houston Gamblers next Sunday at 12:00 p.m. EDT. The game will air on ABC.
Columbus Aviators head coach Ted Ginn, Jr. on his way to the locker room at half time. Columbus would go on to beat Dallas 28-14 at Historic Crew Stadium Friday. Photo: John Hulkenberg