The Columbus Aviators dropped their season finale at home to the Louisville Kings 42-27 on May 31 and finished their inaugural year with the UFL’s worst record at 3-7.
Mathematically, the Kings (6-4) eliminated the Aviators by winning their Week 9 game, locking up the fourth and final playoff spot. Playing for pride, the Aviators started on the wrong foot. Quarterback Jalen Morton, the Week 9 UFL Offensive Player of the Week, threw a pick-six on the game’s first snap.
In many ways, it was unsurprising. The Aviators struggled for early footing throughout the season. Against their three Eastern Conference opponents, the Aviators went 3-3, losing all three on the road.
With limited options to make personnel moves, Ginn made the biggest change possible last week by handing the reins from quarterback Jalan McClenden to Morton. Morton completed just 13 of 38 pass attempts for 221 yards, with one touchdown and one interception in the finale.
When the Kings scored another touchdown to go up 14-10, tensions soared. After Aviators running back John Lovett made a short run at the end of the first quarter, pushing and shoving ensued. Aviators wide receiver Tay Martin and Kings cornerback Eric Garror started the scuffle. With emotions bubbling, Kings cornerback Cam Dantzler then punched Lovett with his helmet.
Dantzler was disqualified, while Martin and Garror each received unnecessary roughness penalties, which all offset. Dantzler apologized to the Kings’ fanbase on social media.
After the kerfluffle, kicker Jonah Dalmas, another late-season addition for the Aviators, lined up from 61 yards out and rocketed a four-point field goal, the first in Aviators history and third of the UFL season. Dalmas was a standout in the finale, making four of five field goal attempts.
Both offenses stayed hot in the first half, resulting in a 28-21 Kings lead resulting at the break.
The Kings, already locked into a playoff spot, swapped quarterbacks at the end of the second quarter and stalled in the third. Dalmas hit two more field goals in the third quarter, so the Aviators entered the final quarter down a point.
The Aviators missed a four-point field goal attempt and turned the ball over on fourth down in their first two possessions of the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the Kings blew past the Aviators with a strong ground game and scored two touchdowns. The Kings ended up outrushing the Aviators 205 to 96.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Aviators drop last game of 2026 42-27 to Louisville Kings
Reporting by Dan Aulbach, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
