Late Touchdown Sends Stallions Riding Back to Birmingham Victorious
With less than two minutes remaining, Birmingham Stallions wide receiver Justyn Ross scored the game-winning touchdown, crushing the hopes of more than 14,000 Louisville Kings fans in the 2026 UFL opener.
Stallions quarterback Matt Corral connected with a wide-open Ross on a post route off a perfectly read RPO. The collective groan from the Kings crowd was palpable.
GIDDY UP!
— Birmingham Stallions (@UFLStallions) March 28, 2026
JUSTYN ROSS FOR THE LEAD 🐴🆙 pic.twitter.com/VPkFEEIuCk
First-year head coach A. J. McCarron elected to go for the traditional one-point PAT, but a second missed kick from Stallions kicker Jonathan Garibay left the door open for Jason Bean and the Kings offense to attempt their first-ever fourth-quarter comeback, trailing 15-13. Those hopes were quickly dashed when Bean’s second down pass was intercepted by Stallions safety Hudson Clark. The Kings defense held strong and forced a Stallions three-and-out, but with no timeouts and only 24 seconds remaining, all the Kings’ horses and all the Kings’ men couldn’t mount another scoring drive, securing McCarron’s first career victory as head coach of the Stallions.
McCarron high on his team's coachability
“This group has been unbelievable to coach. It truly has been a blessing to have leaders like Jaydon ‘Mick’ Mickens and Matt ‘Matty’ Corral,” McCarron said during the postgame press conference.
The Louisville Crowd Did Their Part
Wide receiver Jaydon Mickens praised the UFL, and Kings fans for the energy they brought throughout the game.
“They brought what they needed to bring. We’re proud of the UFL… especially for doing everything they needed to do to get those people in the seats. We love the back and forth, we don’t like beer thrown on us… but we do love the crowd. From start to finish they were there, and they were hyping their team up.”
Kings Head Coach Chris Redman Agreed
“First of all, it was an incredible atmosphere. The fans really showed up, and the city of Louisville really did their part. I just loved the stadium.”
The Kingdom is building 📈 pic.twitter.com/pYGGEXKSkr
— Louisville Kings (@UFLKings) March 29, 2026
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Typically, people want the bad news first, let’s start there. Brutally ineffective would be putting it mildly to describe the Kings running game after game one. On 11 attempts, the running backs managed just 19 yards spread among three rushers, while Bean added five carries for 27 yards himself. The Kings lack of a running game allowed the Stallions to dominate the game in time of possession, holding onto the ball nearly twice as long.
After only one game, it’s difficult to know how much of the running game’s woes were the result of other factors. Are the Stallions an elite run-stopping unit? Was this a product of just really good scheme and gameplan? Only time will tell, but if the Kings want to have the explosive offense they expect and to get the most out of Bean as both a passer and runner, their stable of running backs will need to produce more.
Heading into this game, most experts expected a shootout, not a defensive struggle. They were certainly wrong, the under on the 42.5-point total was never in jeopardy. Where it went wrong for the Kings defense was on third down. The majority of the Stallions chunk plays seemed to come on third down, and the numbers back that up: the Stallions converted 10 of 16 third down attempts, a 63 percent success rate. That will have to improve if the Kings want to remain competitive.
Lastly, turnovers… the true “cardinal” sin in football. If you want to beat good teams like the Stallions, ball security is a must. Bean’s two interceptions, along with a costly red-zone fumble by Ian Wheeler late in the first half are mistakes that have to be cleaned up. If there is a silver lining, Bean’s interception on the opening drive was not entirely on him. Tight end Zach Davidson tipped the ball multiple times without securing it, allowing Stallions linebacker Dyontae Johnson time to intercept the pass.
Kings Fans Deserved More Than a Moral Victory; Plenty of Positives to Build On
Bad news out of the way, ready for the good? While allowing plenty of chunk plays, the Kings defense bent but didn’t break all night. After giving up a touchdown on the Stallions opening drive with 8:53 left in the first quarter the Kings held Birmingham out of the end zone until the game-winning score with 1:55 remaining in the game.
That’s more than 50 minutes without allowing a touchdown, against a high-powered offense, without forcing a single turnover… all while being on the field for over 38 minutes. It doesn’t matter how ugly it looked, that’s gritty hard-nosed football.
Jason Bean Looks Like a Dangerous Player
If you were a box-score merchant, you might look at Bean’s stat line and be underwhelmed: 14-of-27 for 226 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. What that box score doesn’t show are the impressive throws the young quarterback made, some landing right in would-be pass catchers hands only to be dropped. Bean made a few mistakes, most notably the interception at the end of the game, but he also threaded several passes into tight windows that looked like throws you’d see on Sundays. What makes Bean’s stat line even more impressive is that he produced any success through the air at all, given an offense that posed virtually no threat to run the ball aside from Bean himself, who led the team in rushing with 27 yards on five carries. The electric quarterback will undoubtedly put up some monster games for the Kings this season.
The Kings Have a Three-Headed Monster at Receiver with Lucky, Winstead and Black
Without using many words, let me introduce one of the three-headed monsters, Isaiah Winstead who absolutely “mossed” this Stallions defender and ended the day with two catches for 60 yards.
GOT 'EMMM 🤣👏
— Louisville Kings (@UFLKings) March 28, 2026
What a catch from Winstead 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gfYg2hdGI4
Tarik Black had himself a day as well, bringing in three catches for 59 yards.
DOT 🎯
— Louisville Kings (@UFLKings) March 28, 2026
BEAN ➡️ BLACK pic.twitter.com/JorLGXBNo8
Last but certainly not least, Mr. Reliable Lucky Jackson had quite an active game. The Lexington native was on the receiving end of 6 catches for 73 yards. Bean seemed to always be looking for his Lucky pass catcher. Jackson cemented himself in Kings history registering the first touchdown in franchise history.
BEAN ➡️ LUCKY 🍀
— Louisville Kings (@UFLKings) March 28, 2026
KINGS ANSWER RIGHT BACK WITH A TD! pic.twitter.com/PajDH7xwpW
Although the result wasn’t the storybook ending Kings fans hoped it would be, the UFL, the Louisville Kings, and their fans appear to have a very bright future together.
The Kings will travel to Orlando to face the Storm this Saturday seeking their first win as a franchise.
