King nearly leads Phoenix into IWFL World Championship game

Despite being short-handed and making the long trip to Montreal, Canada, the Carolina Phoenix came within six yards of advancing to the Independent Women’s Football League World Championship game.
Faced with a fourth and goal from the Montreal six-yard line, Carolina quarterback and Reidsville native Jennifer King had marched her team down the field 75 yards and had one last play to snatch a victory away from the Blitz in a 19-14 loss.
However, with 5.6 seconds left on the game clock King’s pass in the endzone misfired as time ran out.
The loss to Montreal, the only one for the Phoenix (9-1) on the season, was the second time in three seasons that prevented the team from advancing to the World title game.
What makes the game even more impressive was the fact that the Phoenix were without their offensive coordinator and their best running back.
The majority of these players and coaches have regular 9-to-5 jobs and play football on the side. The Phoenix OC ran into a scheduling snafu at his job and was unable to make the trip and the running back sat out the first half of the game as Carolina fell behind 13-7 at halftime.
“Even with all that happened we still had chances to win,” said King, who starred at Rockingham County High School and Guilford College.
King’s five-yard touchdown run in the first half erased a 13-0 deficit and got the Phoenix within 13-7 heading into the locker rooms.
Montreal extended its lead to 19-7 before Carolina’s Terah James ripped off a TD run and cut the lead to 19-14.
Despite being unable to connect late in the game, head coach Tim Holmes, a Durham native, who played college football at Appalachian State and also played semi-pro football was pleased with the way his QB handled the situation.
“It was her calmness with 2:04 to go that led us to the doorstep after a 75-yard drive,” said Holmes. “Our time will come. We just have to keep working hard to improve and having players like Jennifer King make all the difference in moving from good to great.”
Holmes has helped guide the Phoenix to a 29-6 record over the team’s first four seasons and they have won three Southeastern Division titles.
Montreal will now face the Bay Area Bandits in the championship on July 24 in Round Rock, Texas.
None of the Phoenix’s playoff stats were made available prior to deadline for this story, but heading into the 2010 playoffs, King had amassed 772 yards passing, 367 yards rushing and had scored 26 touchdowns – including two scores on kick returns.
King had 14 passing TDs against just 2 interceptions and 10 rushing TDs and averaged 52.4 yards per game.
During the regular season, the defense had allowed a total of 50 points – 5.6 per game. After nine games last season, the Phoenix had allowed a total of 91 points. In all, the Phoenix allowed just 69 total points for what was an improved defense.
Although she will not be in the title game, King will still be in Round Rock for her second straight IWFL All-Star Game appearance.
Last season, King was named the All-Star Game’s Most Valuable Player.