Louisville Kings advance to United Bowl with road upset over St. Louis Battlehawks

The Louisville Kings stunned the St. Louis Battlehawks 29-20 at the Battledome on Sunday, extending their remarkable turnaround season and earning a place in the United Football League championship game.

After starting the year 0-3, the Kings have now won seven of their last eight games and five straight overall. Their latest victory sends the expansion franchise to the United Bowl in its inaugural season.

Kings strike first

The atmosphere inside St. Louis was electric, but Louisville silenced the crowd almost immediately.

After forcing an opening defensive stop, James Robinson broke loose for a 53-yard touchdown run to give the visitors an early lead. The explosive play was an early sign that the Kings would not be intimidated by the league’s top-ranked rushing defense.

The Battlehawks answered with a Ramiz Ahmed field goal before Tanner Brown delivered one of the defining moments of the game, drilling a 60-yard four-point field goal to extend the Louisville advantage.

Battlehawks battle back

The home side responded in impressive fashion during the second quarter.

Luis Perez led a scoring drive capped by a one-yard touchdown run from Jarveon Howard, the running back’s first rushing touchdown of the season. Later, Perez found Blake Jackson for a touchdown that gave St. Louis its first lead of the afternoon.

The Battlehawks appeared to seize momentum heading into halftime after Myles Sims intercepted a deep pass on a trick-play attempt by Louisville. That turnover helped send St. Louis to the locker room holding a 17-11 advantage.

Winstead and Wheeler change the game

The second half belonged to the Kings.

Chandler Rogers sparked the comeback by finding Isaiah Winstead on a 52-yard catch-and-run before connecting with him again for a touchdown that put Louisville back in front 18-17.

Although Ahmed later kicked a field goal to restore a brief Battlehawks lead, the Kings continued to find big plays.

Ian Wheeler delivered the biggest one of all, racing 51 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown that swung the game firmly in Louisville’s favor.

Brown makes history

With the game hanging in the balance, Tanner Brown stepped forward again.

Already responsible for one four-point field goal, Brown connected from 63 yards to become the first kicker in UFL history to make two four-point field goals in the same game.

The kick stretched the lead to 29-20 and left the Battlehawks needing a late miracle.

Defense slams the door

St. Louis made one final push deep into Louisville territory, but the Kings’ defense delivered the knockout blow.

Cam Gill and Lonnie Phelps recorded key sacks before Steele Chambers intercepted Perez in the end zone to seal the victory.

The defense once again proved why it has been one of the driving forces behind Louisville’s remarkable season.

Now the Kings head to the United Bowl, where they will face the DC Defenders with a championship on the line.