Chris Redman couldn't hide his pride as he stood in front of reporters after the Louisville Kings' 42-27 victory over Columbus. His expansion franchise had just completed one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent UFL memory — from 0-3 to playoff bound in their inaugural season.
"I'm just really, really proud of these guys for the season they had and what we've overcome being starting the way we did, 0-3, to where we're at right now," Redman said. "A lot of confidence. These guys really came together."
Three-Headed Monster Dominates Ground Game
The Kings' running attack torched Columbus for 205 yards, with their deep backfield rotation proving too much for the Aviators to handle. Ian Wheeler led the charge with 99 rushing yards, while Jaden Shirden punched in two fourth-quarter touchdowns to put the game away.
"I think we have the best running back room in the league," Wheeler said. "I think all three of us can succeed whenever we get the ball in our hand, whether that's running the ball, passing the ball."
Shirden, who had taken a backseat for much of the season, relished his opportunity to close out the victory. When asked about getting two scores in the fourth quarter, his response was simple: "Coach said, you ready to go up? I've been ready. So I just went out there and did my thing."
From Disaster to Playoffs in 10 Weeks
The transformation from those early-season struggles to playoff contender didn't happen overnight. Redman emphasized how his team's chemistry became their biggest weapon as the season progressed.
"The chemistry has been amazing. We got incredible running backs here," Redman explained. "These guys are all rallying together. And it's a team game. We're all out here for the same goal, is to win the championship."
The coach made it clear his team isn't satisfied with just making the playoffs. "We're a pretty hot team right now, so we're going to hopefully ride this momentum as long as we can," he said.
Louisville Fans Travel in Force
Despite playing on the road in Columbus, the Kings had plenty of support in the stands. A dedicated group of Louisville fans made the three-hour trip, creating what Redman called a "Rat Pack" that brought serious energy to the game.
"Louisville's 3 hours away, and I had a feeling they would come travel because they're really excited back in Louisville about what's going on and this group of guys," Redman said. "They were loud too. I mean, they really, it was awesome to have them travel all the way."
The coach is hoping that same passionate fan base will make the trip to St. Louis for their playoff matchup. "Hopefully they can travel to St. Louis. It's not too much further, so it's right down the road from Louisville."
Revenge Game Awaits in St. Louis
The Kings' first playoff game will be a revenge match against the St. Louis Battlehawks, who beat Louisville earlier this season. Redman isn't looking for extra motivation — his team already has plenty.
"We have our work cut out for us," Redman acknowledged. "We've got an incredible football team that we played not too long ago and they beat us. So we have our get back against St. Louis."
"As soon as we get on this plane, we're going to start watching film, get ready for St. Louis," Redman said. "Two weeks left. So we're going to give it all we got."
The Kings are riding high heading into their first playoff appearance, with their three-headed rushing attack and passionate fan support providing the perfect foundation for what they hope will be a championship run.