Louisville Kings advance to UFL title game with win over St. Louis

The Louisville Kings are headed to the United Football League‘s championship game.

The Kings pushed their winning streak to five in a row Sunday with a 29-20 victory over the St. Louis Battlehawks inside the The Dome at America’s Center.

Up next for Chris Redman‘s team: Round 3 against the reigning champions, the DC Defenders, on their home turf. Kickoff for the United Bowl is set for 3 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at Audi Field in the nation’s capital.

Here are two takeaways from Sunday’s win:

Redman made one of the best calls of his short head-coaching career around the nine-minute mark of the fourth quarter and the Kings clinging to a 25-20 lead.

Battlehawks quarterback Luis Perez had just completed a pass to tight end Sal Cannella for a gain of 21 yards down to Louisville’s 14-yard line. The hosts had momentum and were looking to capitalize on it with a go-ahead score.

But Redman used his super challenge — a UFL original that allows coaches to get an official review on a call they believe was missed. In this instance, Redman thought St. Louis tackle Richard Gouraige was holding all-league outside linebacker Cam Gill as he was trying to take down Perez. After another look, officials agreed.

Instead of having the ball first and 10 on the Kings’ 14-yard line, the Battlehawks faced first down and 20 at Louisville’s 45. That changed everything.

Well beyond the sticks, St. Louis’ offense stalled. It was not in field goal range and turned the ball over on downs instead.

Five plays later, Kings kicker Tanner Brown knocked down his second four-point field goal of the evening.

The Battlehawks had 75 offensive snaps to the Kings’ 42.

Louisville’s defense was on the field for 40:02 and gave up four trips to the red zone.

And yet, coordinator Jamie Sharper’s unit surrendered only 20 points — only three of which came during the second half.

That’s impressive, especially considering the Kings didn’t force a takeaway until the final minute of regulation.

The Kings’ offense failed to score 30 points Sunday for the first time since a 16-3 loss to the Battlehawks on April 30. For good chunks of the evening, St. Louis had Chandler Rogers & Co. looking out of sync yet again.

That’s why three plays of 50-plus large were critical.

First, James Robinson’s 53-yard touchdown run on Louisville’s fourth snap. The running back took off last week’s regular-season finale, and you could tell when he hit another gear after breaking through the second level of the Battlehawks’ defense. That rush accounted for a third of Louisville’s 159 first-half total yards.

Then, in the third quarter: Rogers connected with Isaiah Winstead for a 54-yard gain. That came on third down and 4 at the Kings’ 35-yard line — and set up a 9-yard touchdown from the duo two plays later.

Finally, Ian Wheeler matched Robinson with a 51-yard scamper for a score. That gave Louisville the lead for good.

This story will be updated.

Reach Louisville men’s basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville Kings beat St. Louis Battlehawks, will play in United Bowl