The Louisville Kings’ winning ways didn’t make the trip home.

After picking up back-to-back victories at Houston and Dallas, the Kings couldn’t get anything going offensively Thursday night at Lynn Family Stadium. Offensive drives stalled and the defense gave up several big plays en route to a 16-3 loss to the St. Louis Battlehawks in the inaugural Derby Classic.

The Kings (2-4) seemed like they were on their way to pick up their first-ever home win early. Tanner Brown’s 40-yard field goal to end the opening series put the Kings up early. But the Battlehawks (4-2) responded with nine unanswered points in the second quarter and kept Louisville at bay for back-to-back road victories.

The Kings were held without a touchdown for the first time since their 19-9 Week 2 loss at Orlando. They’ll hit the road to play the DC Defenders at 1:30 p.m. next Saturday.

Here are three takeaways from Louisville’s loss to St. Louis:

Louisville’s first-half penalty problem

During the Kings’ third series of the game, they had three penalties — back-to-back holdings and a false start two plays later — and faced third-and-27 from their 47-yard line. Two plays after the false start penalty, Louisville almost suffered a fourth, but it was offsetting, with both teams being called for unnecessary roughness.

The Kings’ defense contributed to the penalty woes as well, with two penalties over three plays setting up Battlehawks wide receiver Gary Jennings Jr.’s 4-yard touchdown to put the visitors up, 9-3, at the 2:39 mark of the second quarter.

Louisville ended the first half with more penalty yards (33) than rushing yards (6).

Tyler Hudson’s special teams spark

Former Louisville Cardinals wide receiver Tyler Hudson shared return duties for the Kings, which was one of the only bright spots of the night. Hudson got the crowd of 10,456 going with a 52-yard kickoff return in the second quarter. Prior to Thursday, he’d only had one kickoff return for 30 yards this season; he ended the night with 115 all-purpose yards.

Despite the long run, the Kings’ offense couldn’t capitalize: Brown missed the 53-yard field goal — only his second errant kick of the season — to end the 3-play, 3-yard drive.

Louisville Kings defense struggles with big plays

Battlehawks quarterback Harrison Frost completed 22 of 40 passes for 242 yards with two touchdowns. Of those passes, 11 went for 10 or more yards and five were for 15 or more yards. The Kings contained the Battlehawks’ offense early, including Eric Garror’s interception to end the first half, but big plays became the defensive unit’s Achilles heel.

During the Battlehawks’ second drive of the second half, Frost completed passes of 12, 12 and 26 yards before using an 11-yard touchdown pass to Steven McBride to put St. Louis up, 16-3, with 5:08 left in the third quarter.

This story will be updated.

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Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: UFL schedule today, Louisville Kings score vs St. Louis Battlehawks