SupHer Bowl hopefuls thrill fans
Oklahoma City defeats Kansas City in a National Women's Football Association exhibition.
BY KOLLEN LONG
The Wichita Eagle

Go to the Web site of the National Women's Football Association and you're greeted with the organization's theme song -- a little diddy by the band Hip Kitty called "Girls Rock."

The first line asks, "Who says that a girl can't be a jock?"

Certainly no one would say such a thing after checking out the NWFA's exhibition between the Kansas City Krunch and Oklahoma City Lightning on Saturday night at the Andover District Stadium.

Sure, the game was sloppy at times and slowed by way too many penalties, but the teams combined for enough exciting plays to put on an entertaining show for the 200 or so fans who braved the rainy, chilly weather.

The Krunch got crunched 38-6 in a rematch of last year's division championship, also won by Oklahoma City.

Micki Jones, Kansas City's star player, provided the team's only highlight, scooping up a fumble and returning it 65 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.

But the outcome didn't seem overly important to the Krunch, a second-year organization that makes its home in Overland Park.

Scott James, vice president of operations, was simply eager to show off his team and the sport.

"It's an exciting game," he said. "If you didn't see the ponytails, you'd think it was guys out there."

Added defensive standout and Pittsburg native Kris Skahan, "This gives us exposure in another part of the state and lets people here see that women's football is for real."

For real, indeed.

After Oklahoma City's speedy tailback, Iliana Calderon, was tackled hard by a Krunch player, a soggy fan yelled, "Now that's football!"

The Krunch, which went 5-3 in its first season last year, plays its home games at Kansas City Harmon High and averages about 700 fans. The team's roster has 53 players, and it's an interesting group.

"We've got stay-at-home moms, grandmothers, lawyers, a medical assistant, factory workers -- everything," James said.

Formed in 2000, the league will field 37 teams in 23 states when the regular season begins in early April. The season will culminate in the SupHer Bowl (yes, it's really called that) at the University of Louisville.

The players and coaches don't get paid and have to foot the bill for their own uniforms, pads and transportation.

Jones, a physical education teacher, said her love for the sport makes the sacrifice worth it.

"Yeah, we're women, but some of the hits out there are just as hard as in the men's game," she said. "This isn't like 'A League of the Their Own' where the players are wearing short skirts and stuff. This is the full deal. This is football."

The Wichita Eagle - www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/sports/ - 03/14/2004