The Louisville Kings are going to the United Bowl.
A first-year franchise with a first-year head coach who was coaching high school football last season just knocked off the St. Louis Battlehawks 29-20 to punch their ticket to the UFL Championship Game. And they did it the hard way.
St. Louis controlled the ball for over 40 minutes and ran 75 plays, but the Kings defense allowed just three points in the second half. Players were cramping everywhere by the end, but they never broke.
"We had guys cramping everywhere towards the end of that game just because of the length of time they were on the field. But they had all kinds of heart, and that's what it takes to get to a championship game," said head coach Chris Redman.
From High School to the United Bowl
This is a remarkable journey for Chris Redman, who made the leap from high school football directly to the UFL. When asked about the year of firsts, he didn't shy away from the magnitude of the moment.
"First year head coach. Yeah, I was coaching high school football right before this. Well, hello world, right?" Redman said with a grin.
The Kings' season started rocky. After their first win against Houston, something didn't sit right with Redman. "I'll be honest, after the Houston game was our first win and just didn't feel like a win to me," he explained. "And it had something in my gut saying that, you know, it was time to switch things up big time."
That mid-season rebuild worked. The Kings put together a completely different team and never looked back.
Special Teams Magic
Tanner Brown was the difference maker against St. Louis, nailing two 4-point field goals that provided the winning margin. His confidence never wavers, no matter the distance.
"I just can't say enough about how hard and dedicated these players are in practice," Redman said of Brown. "He tells me the exact truth. And I can't just say— I mean, this will be his last year in the UFL. He is a professional, for sure, NFL kicker."
Brown's pre-kick routine is simple but powerful: "One of the main things I say to myself is, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner. That's really it."
Third Time's the Charm?
The Kings now face their biggest challenge yet - beating DC for the third time this season. The defending champions await in their home stadium, and Louisville knows history isn't on their side.
"Orlando saw that it's hard to beat a team 3 times in a row. And, you know, we won 2, but we got to play them 3 times," Redman acknowledged. "So that's a challenge that we're going to have to try and do."
There's even a personal connection in the matchup. Quarterback Chandler Rodgers will face former high school classmate Jason Bean, who starts for DC. "I'm happy for Jason to get an opportunity, you know, somewhere else to play and be successful," Rodgers said diplomatically.
Culture Built on Faith and Chemistry
This team's identity runs deeper than X's and O's. The religious foundation and genuine chemistry shine through in every interview.
"First of all, give all the glory to God. Without him, none of this would be possible," Redman said immediately after the win. "What an incredible example it is for when things are down and life says you can't do it, you can, you can still do it."
The players echo that sentiment. "Just truly grateful for the opportunity to play on national stage in front of everybody. This is what we work for," said Rodgers. "We're just fulfilling our destiny that God placed before us."
David vs. Goliath in DC
The United Bowl represents the ultimate test for this upstart franchise. They'll travel to Audi Field to face a DC team that's been there before, in front of a hostile crowd, with everything on the line.
But if this season has taught us anything, it's that the Louisville Kings don't back down from challenges. They've already defied every expectation - from a mid-season rebuild to a first-year coach reaching the championship game.
One more upset and the Kings will have the most improbable championship story in UFL history.