Louisville Kings beat Dallas Renegades, control UFL playoff destiny

• With their 37-23 win Sunday over the Dallas Renegades, the Louisville Kings now control their own destiny in the race for the final spot in the United Football League playoffs.
• Quarterback Chandler Rogers threw for a season-high 266 yards and two touchdowns.
• Kings running backs Ian Wheeler and James Robinson spearheaded a banner day on the ground, too.

The Louisville Kings notched their third consecutive win Sunday, 37-23 over the Dallas Renegades in front of an announced crowd of 10,378 at Lynn Family Stadium.

Louisville improved to 5-4 and moved a full game in front of the Birmingham Stallions in the race for the fourth and final spot in the United Football League playoffs. Chris Redman’s team needs only to win next week’s regular-season finale against the Columbus Aviators at Historic Crew Stadium to earn a trip to the postseason. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. May 31.

“Starting 0-3 this season, to be able to rally back and give ourselves a chance to (reach the postseason) is amazing,” Redman said. “I’m just really excited about this team and the opportunity that’s presenting itself.”

Here are three takeaways from Sunday’s win:

Trailing 17-16 around the 12-minute mark of the fourth quarter, Kings quarterback Chandler Rogers connected with Isaiah Winstead for a 40-yard touchdown that gave Louisville the lead for good.

That was one of Rogers’ seven completions of 20-plus yards. The former backup finished the evening 16 for 21, with a season-high 266 yards (16.6 per completion) and two touchdowns.

“We knew that their corners could not hang with our receivers,” Rogers said. “We took advantage of that, especially when they were playing in (a) two-high shell.”

Rogers spread the wealth Sunday. Five Kings players had receptions of 20-plus yards. Tarik Black led the way with three.

Black posted a game-high 82 receiving yards (20.5 per catch). He and Rogers linked up for a 22-yard touchdown that pushed the Kings’ lead to 37-17 with 3:28 remaining in regulation.

“Coach Redman gave me the keys to the franchise, and we’ve been on a roll ever since,” Rogers said.

When the Kings beat the Renegades in April, running backs Ian Wheeler and James Robinson combined for a season-high 147 rushing yards.

Round 2 on Sunday felt like a full-circle moment for a team that struggled to move the ball on the ground during the first four weeks of the season. Behind 93 yards on 13 carries from Wheeler and 88 on 22 carries from Robinson, Louisville set a new season high with 205 rushing yards.

“Once we get going — once that hole is open — me or Ian can pop off,” Robinson said.

To his point: Both RBs gashed Dallas for gains of 20-plus yards. And both came up big in the fourth quarter.

Robinson willed his way into the end zone for a two-point conversion after Rogers and Winstead’s 40-yard touchdown around the 12-minute mark. Wheeler delivered a 1-yard score with 7:47 remaining in regulation.

Behind Wheeler and Robinson’s big day, the Kings dominated time of possession — 34:15 vs. 25:45.

The Kings made some costly first-half mistakes — and committed a lot of penalties

The Kings took a 13-10 lead into the locker room. They should have had a lot more breathing room, considering they had 250 yards of total offense to Dallas’ 81.

The following “what if?” moments loomed large:

• What if the Kings’ defense came up with a stop on fourth-and-2 instead of allowing a 36-yard touchdown pass on the Renegades’ opening drive?
• What if Robinson didn’t fumble 3 yards shy of the end zone on Louisville’s first drive of the game?
• What if a Dallas super challenge of Lucky Jackson’s 63-yard punt return for a touchdown didn’t reveal an illegal block above the waist?
• What if free safety Keaton Ellis didn’t gift the Renegades 44 yards on a pass interference penalty, leading to a field goal?

The flag on Ellis was one of 13 (for a whopping 156 yards) that went against the Kings. That can’t happen if Louisville wants to make a deep playoff run.

“That’s the beauty (of) football: You can have a win, but there are always things to get better at,” Redman said.

Reach Louisville men’s basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.