King continues to excel in IWFL

The Carolina Queens did something no other team could do this season – hand the Carolina Phoenix a defeat.
The Queens did that with a 36-20 win June 13 in Charlotte as the Independent Women’s Football League prepares for its playoff season.
Former Rockingham County High School and Guilford College standout Jennifer King is once again under center as quarterback of the Phoenix.
King, who is in her third season, has completed 48 percent of her passes to go along with 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions. She is 47 of 97 passing for 774 yards. She has also rushed 51 times for 478 yards and four touchdowns.
In all, the former Lady Cougar has accounted for 1,327 total yards and 17 TDs. This season her numbers are up drastically compared to a year ago.
Last season, King threw for just 174 yards and four TDs, but ran for 649 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Recently, King was named to the IWFL All-Star Game – scheduled for July 26 in Round Rock, Texas.
When she is not playing football, King is also an assistant basketball coach at Greensboro College and is also involved with Liberty National Insurance. She graduated from Rockingham County High School in 2002 and Guilford College in 2006 – following stellar basketball careers at both schools.
Founded in 2000 by a group of women dedicated to making the sport a household name, the IWFL’s popularity continues to rise. It currently has over 1,600 women playing the sport for 41 teams across North America from Southern California to Montreal and Washington to Florida with consistent expansion into to new markets.
There are three division in both the Western and Eastern Conferences in the IWFL’s Tier I portion of the league, then there are 26 Tier II teams, who can play against both Tier I and II teams. Last season, only 11 Tier II teams competed.
The Phoenix and the Queens schedule this season has consisted of strictly Tier II teams. Both teams have identical 7-1 records.
According to league rules, the eight Tier II teams with the highest ‘rating’ will be designated as postseason teams. The Tier I teams, such as Dallas, Pittsburgh, New York and Miami have a separate championship.
In 2008, the Phoenix finished with the third-best record at 7-2. They lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Montreal Blitz, 41-27.
The Phoenix were 5-1 in 2007 – their first season in the IWFL.
During their brief, three-year run the team has compiled a 19-4 record under head coach Tim Holmes.
King and her Phoenix teammates are preparing for the postseason. In the first round of the playoffs, they will get a rematch with the Queens Saturday night in Charlotte.
The Queens are averaging an impressive 422.9 yards per game and 32.0 points per contest. For the Phoenix, in addition to their 293.6 yards per game, they are also averaging 26.3 points per game.
King is currently ranked 11th in the league in terms of quarterback passing yards and eighth in touchdown passes. Kansas City’s Jenny Schmidt leads the IWFL with 35 touchdown passes.
This week’s playoff game, one of eight to be played in round one, will be played at 6 p.m. at West Charlotte High School.
Round two is scheduled for July 11 with the championship game scheduled for July 25 – the same weekend as the All-Star game.
King could have a busy weekend in Texas come late July.