{"id":275726,"date":"2026-05-02T07:26:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T07:26:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/275726\/"},"modified":"2026-05-02T07:26:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T07:26:16","slug":"columbus-aviators-top-houston-gamblers-24-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/275726\/","title":{"rendered":"Columbus Aviators top Houston Gamblers 24-17"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Jim Tressel bobblehead night<\/a>, the Columbus Aviators (2-5) picked up their second franchise win, taking down the Houston Gamblers<\/a> 24-17 on May 1.<\/p>\n

It’s the second time in a row the Aviators have lost to a team on the road, then beat the same team the week after <\/a>at home.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

The Aviators entered the game with a 1-4 record, the worst turnover ratio (-5) and most sacks allowed per game. Despite the struggles, the Aviators boast the most rushing yards per game and per attempt in the UFL, and that helped them score 21 points in the first half. The Aviators outrushed the Gamblers 179-82.<\/p>\n

1 \/ 10<\/p>\n

Highlights of Columbus Aviators vs Houston Gamblers UFL matchup<\/p>\n

Kevin and Salena DaLuz pose for a photo before the UFL game against the Houston Gamblers at Historic Crew Stadium on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.<\/p>\n

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1 \/ 10<\/p>\n

Highlights of Columbus Aviators vs Houston Gamblers UFL matchup<\/p>\n

Kevin and Salena DaLuz pose for a photo before the UFL game against the Houston Gamblers at Historic Crew Stadium on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.<\/p>\n

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2 \/ 10<\/p>\n

Highlights of Columbus Aviators vs Houston Gamblers UFL matchup<\/p>\n

Columbus Aviators warm up before the UFL game against the Houston Gamblers at Historic Crew Stadium on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.<\/p>\n

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3 \/ 10<\/p>\n

Highlights of Columbus Aviators vs Houston Gamblers UFL matchup<\/p>\n

Fans enter the stadium before the UFL game against the Houston Gamblers at Historic Crew Stadium on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.<\/p>\n

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4 \/ 10<\/p>\n

Highlights of Columbus Aviators vs Houston Gamblers UFL matchup<\/p>\n

Free bobbleheads of Jim Tressel for fans before the UFL game against the Houston Gamblers at Historic Crew Stadium on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.<\/p>\n

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5 \/ 10<\/p>\n

Highlights of Columbus Aviators vs Houston Gamblers UFL matchup<\/p>\n

Fans receive a bobblehead of Jim Tressel before the UFL game against the Houston Gamblers at Historic Crew Stadium on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.<\/p>\n

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6 \/ 10<\/p>\n

Highlights of Columbus Aviators vs Houston Gamblers UFL matchup<\/p>\n

A fan receives a bobblehead of Jim Tressel before the UFL game against the Houston Gamblers at Historic Crew Stadium on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.<\/p>\n

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7 \/ 10<\/p>\n

Highlights of Columbus Aviators vs Houston Gamblers UFL matchup<\/p>\n

A fan receives a bobblehead of Jim Tressel before the UFL game against the Houston Gamblers at Historic Crew Stadium on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.<\/p>\n

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8 \/ 10<\/p>\n

Highlights of Columbus Aviators vs Houston Gamblers UFL matchup<\/p>\n

Scarlett Laferty, 7, fist bumps Crew Cat before the UFL game against the Houston Gamblers at Historic Crew Stadium on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.<\/p>\n

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9 \/ 10<\/p>\n

Highlights of Columbus Aviators vs Houston Gamblers UFL matchup<\/p>\n

Twins Zach and Alex King smile after taking a photo with their Jim Tressel bobbleheads before the UFL game against the Houston Gamblers at Historic Crew Stadium on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.<\/p>\n

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10 \/ 10<\/p>\n

Highlights of Columbus Aviators vs Houston Gamblers UFL matchup<\/p>\n

Columbus Aviators warm up before the UFL game against the Houston Gamblers at Historic Crew Stadium on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.<\/p>\n

The Aviators outpossessed the Gamblers by more than nine minutes in the first half and had 222 total yards of offense, the most of any half for the team to date. After losing a fumble that cost the Aviators a chance to beat the Gamblers last week, quarterback Jalan McClendon played a turnover-free game and completed 20 for 26 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown.<\/p>\n

Leading 14-10 with eight minutes remaining in the second quarter, McClendon threw his best pass of the day, a bullet to wide receiver Tay Martin<\/a>, who pushed downfield for 52 yards.<\/p>\n

After McClendon’s pass, running back Zaquandre White took the next four carries for 20 yards, ending with a rushing touchdown to put the Aviators ahead 21-10 with five minutes left in the second quarter.<\/p>\n

\"Free<\/p>\n

Free bobbleheads of Jim Tressel for fans before the UFL game against the Houston Gamblers at Historic Crew Stadium on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.<\/p>\n

Gamblers quarterback Nolan Henderson<\/a>, who had no turnovers and a rushing touchdown in the win against the Aviators last week, appeared to injure a leg on the Gamblers’ first scoring drive. He played the rest of the first half but did not return for the second half.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

Backup quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa<\/a>, brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa<\/a>, entered the game and led a five-play, 57-yard touchdown drive to get the Gamblers within a touchdown entering the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

Though the Aviators played lockdown defense, their offense stalled, aside from a 48-yard field goal by kicker Ryan Coe on their first drive of the second half. Coe attempted a 49-yard field goal with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter but missed short and right.<\/p>\n

\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Gamblers linebacker Anthony Hines III (57) attempts to tackle Columbus Aviators tight end Gunnar Oakes (84) in the first quarter of the UFL game at Historic Crew Stadium on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.<\/p>\n

With the ball on the Gamblers’ 39-yard line, the Aviators’ defensive front stepped up. Linebacker Jailin Walker<\/a> sacked Tagovailoa on third down, forcing a three-and-out. The Aviators chewed the clock down to 57 seconds remaining on the next possession. Punter Brad Robbins<\/a>, a Westerville South graduate who leads the UFL in punt-yards average, booted the ball 56 yards, and Houston started its attempt at a game-tying drive on the 16-yard line.<\/p>\n

On the first play of the final drive, defensive end Ron Stone Jr. hammered Tagovailoa to the ground for a loss of nine yards. Tagovailoa winced in pain and was helped off the field. Instead of putting in third-string quarterback Hunter Decks, the Gamblers put in wide receiver Jonte Kirklin under center, and he threw an interception to safety Kedrick Whitehead Jr. to seal the game.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

The Aviators (2-4) are tied for fifth in the UFL standings.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Aviators score 21 points in 1st half, beat Gamblers 24-17<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"On Jim Tressel bobblehead night, the Columbus Aviators (2-5) picked up their second franchise win, taking down the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":275727,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[55980,68132,56,19897,58,57,102064,102062,102061,102063,102060,8868,10368,19898],"class_list":["post-275726","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-houston","tag-brad-robbins","tag-columbus-aviators","tag-houston","tag-houston-gamblers","tag-houston-headlines","tag-houston-news","tag-jailin-walker","tag-nolan-henderson","tag-taulia-tagovailoa","tag-tay-martin","tag-the-aviators","tag-touchdown","tag-tua-tagovailoa","tag-ufl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275726","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=275726"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275726\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/275727"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=275726"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=275726"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=275726"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}