The Columbus Aviators won a dramatic 36-29 victory over the Birmingham Stallions on May 23 with a new starting quarterback and clutch defensive plays to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
The action erupted with the Aviators in the red zone on third down with less than two minutes remaining in the game. Down 29-21, new Aviators starting quarterback Jalen Morton charged and dove towards the end zone but was ruled short of entry. Upon official review, Morton had stretched the ball into the end zone before hitting the ground, and the call was overturned. The crowd roared.
Needing a two-point conversion to tie the game, Morton lobbed a pass into the back of the end zone for wide receiver Keke Chism, who stretched out for the ball while keeping a leg inbounds to tie the game.
Needing a score to take a late lead, Stallions quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, formerly of the Cleveland Browns, made a crucial mistake: a game-losing 36-yard pick-six caught by cornerback D.J. Miller Jr. for a 36-29 lead. The Stallions failed to match on their last drive.
“I think this is the most complementary football we played all year,” said Aviators head coach Ted Ginn Jr. “We believed in each other.”
The Aviators saw the impact of the change at starting quarterback from Jalan McClendon to Morton on the first drive of the game. At the opposing 8-yard line, Morton softly tossed the football laterally to running back Zaquandre White, but the ball was batted mid-air by safety Alex Cook. Morton scooped the loose football for a 72-yard touchdown.
Aviators free safety Akeem Dent blocked the Stallions’ extra-point attempt. Aviators cornerback Nehemiah Shelton picked up the ball for an 85-yard return for a one-point score, resulting in a 6-1 Stallions lead after the first drive.
After the mishap, Morton settled in and set an Aviators single-game record with 330 all-purpose yards, letting his dual-threat ability shine. He passed for 213 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 117 and a score.
“He came out and he showed who he was and played for the name on his back. And that’s all I can ask him to do,” said Ginn Jr.
The Aviators did not add to their lone point until the second quarter. Down 13-1, Morton led a 64-yard scoring drive that finished with a 15-yard touchdown pass to running back John Lovett.
Down 20-8 after another Stallions scoring drive, Morton threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to tight end Gunnar Oakes. The Aviators entered the second half down 23-14.
The Aviators’ defense held the Stallions out of the end zone in the third quarter while the offense leaned into Morton’s passing game. With eight minutes left in the quarter, Morton converted a fourth-and-5 with a 20-yard pass to wide receiver Keke Chism. He found Lovett on an off-script short pass, which Lovett bobbled multiple times before securing the ball in his arms and jogging into the end zone for a touchdown to make it 23-21.
The Aviators’ momentum then slipped. Stallions running back Snoop Connor ran for 29 yards on a crucial third-down conversion, which led to a field goal and a 26-21 lead entering the fourth quarter.
With the ball pushed into Stallions territory, Morton threw a pass intended for Easop Winston Jr., and the ball tipped off his fingertips and fell into the hands of cornerback Ryan Cooper. He ran the ball 37 yards toward the Aviators end zone, setting up a field goal and putting the Aviators down 29-21.
Getting a much-needed stop, the Aviators received the ball with 3:31 left at their own 9-yard line. After getting chunk yardage, Morton attempted to sail a deep pass to Winston, who drew contact and earned a 42-yard pass interference call. The call set up Morton’s clutch rushing touchdown and two-point conversion to tie the game.
At 3-6, the Aviators are not out of the playoffs yet and finish their first season at home against the Louisville Kings May 31.
This story was updated with quotes.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Aviators win 36-29 duel over Birmingham Stallions
Reporting by Dan Aulbach, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
