LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Three months ago, the Louisville Kings didn't exist. Next Saturday, they'll play for a championship.
The UFL expansion franchise continued one of the league's most remarkable turnarounds Sunday, defeating the St. Louis Battlehawks 29-20 on the road to earn a berth in the United Bowl against the defending champion DC Defenders at 3 p.m. Saturday at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
After opening the season with three straight losses, Louisville has now won seven of its last eight games. The Kings also have beaten the Defenders twice this season.
Sunday's victory looked a lot like the formula that fueled Louisville's second-half surge.
The Kings didn't control the game as much as they changed it.
St. Louis ran 75 plays, held the ball for more than 40 minutes and finished with 22 first downs. Louisville managed just 42 offensive plays and 11 first downs.
But whenever the Battlehawks appeared ready to seize control, the Kings delivered an explosive play.
James Robinson broke free for a 53-yard touchdown run just four minutes into the game. Tanner Brown added four-point field goals from 60 and 63 yards. After St. Louis erased an early deficit and took a 17-11 halftime lead, Chandler Rogers connected with Isaiah Winstead for a third-quarter touchdown that tied the game.
Then Ian Wheeler delivered the biggest play of the afternoon, racing 51 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to put Louisville ahead for good.
The Kings finished with 168 rushing yards and three plays of at least 50 yards.
Louisville's defense handled the rest.
Despite spending much of the afternoon on the field, the Kings limited St. Louis to 20 points, sacked quarterback Luis Perez four times and ended the Battlehawks' final threat when Steele Chambers intercepted a pass in the end zone during the closing seconds.
Now Louisville is one win away from a championship in its inaugural season.
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