Kings of Spring Football

The first-year Louisville Kings completed an incredible run in the United Football League (UFL) to dethrone the DC Defenders 27-20 in the United Bowl championship game.

Louisville trailed 16-7 at the half, before scoring 20 unanswered points. A 60-yard, four-point field goal from D.C. kicker Matt McCrane cut the margin to seven, and the Defenders failed to convert on fourth and five from the Louisville six with less than two minutes to play.

The Louisville offense sputtered for much of the game. Quarterback Chandler Rogers finished with 81 passing yards and two interceptions. The Kings had 181 rushing yards, including a 44-yard touchdown from tailback Ian Wheeler, who had spent time in the offseason and preseason with the Bears in 2024 and 2025.

Former NFL running back James Robinson, who gained 1,070 yards as an undrafted rookie with the Jaguars in 2020, added 69 yards and a touchdown.

The Defenders lost quarterback Jason Bean to a shoulder injury. E.J. Perry nearly led the comeback.

Washington outgained Louisville, 319 to 261. D.C. had three turnovers, including a fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Louisville. That gave the Kings their only first-half points.

The Kings were led by former NFL quarterback Chris Redman. He made the most of his first year of coaching at any level.

Watch the game here: https://youtu.be/qGDzmEVczhU?si=vd7ov5aY-ZfQqZzu

The victory capped a three-game sweep of the Defenders by the Kings. Louisville won 30-13 in Week 7 at D.C., and 33-30 in Week 8 at home.

The improbable run for the Kings began with an 0-3 start to the season but then finished 6-1 to clinch one of the four playoff berths. They beat the St. Louis Battlehawks 29-20 in the semifinals.

The Kings finished second in the league attendance with an average of 11,195.

UFL Final Standings:

1. Orlando Storm (8-2)
2. St. Louis Battlehawks (6-4)
3. Louisville Kings (6-4)
4. DC Defenders (5-5)
5. Dallas Renegades (4-6)
6. Birmingham Stallions (4-6)
7. Houston Gamblers (4-6)
8. Columbus Aviators (3-7)

Semifinals
DC 28, Orlando 22
Louisville 29, St. Louis 20

United Bowl
Louisville 27, DC 20

For more information on the UFL: https://www.theufl.com