KING COUNTY JAGUARS

The 'King County Jaguars' are a semi-professional football team located in Kent, Washington and founded in 1999. They are a member of the Northwest Football League and also play independently in the west division of the Minor League Football Association. They play their home games at French Field at Kent-Meridian High School.

Contents

History

External links

History

Former football player Jeff Scott began his Northwest Football League (NWFL) career as the Defensive Coordinator for the NWFL Seattle Blue Devils, a position he held from 1996-1999. Prior to the start of the 1999 NWFL season, Coach Scott began purchase negotiations with the Seattle Blue Devils organization. An agreement could not be reached and Coach Scott left the Seattle Blue Devils to form the King County Jaguars.
In their maiden season of 1999, Owner and Head Coach Scott lead the Jaguars to a 4-6 record. The 2000 season saw the Jaguars finish with the same 4-6 record.
The Jaguars first winning season came in 2001 with a 6-4 record.
During the 2002 season, the Jaguars went 4-4 for the season and French Field, located at Kent Meridian High School in Kent, became the official home field of the King County Jaguars.
In 2003 the King County Jaguars won the NWFL regular season title and won their first ever NWFL playoff game against the Multnomah County Buccaneers on September 6, 2003, by the score of 24 to 7. The Jaguars then advanced to the NWFL Championship game. The Jaguars came up short of the NWFL title loosing to the Eastside Hawks, (owned by the then Seattle Seahawk, Sam Adams), with a score of 27 to 17.
The 2003 season also brought the King County Jaguars their first ever North American Football League (NAFL) playoff game against the South Ogden Rhino-Raiders in Utah. The Jaguars traveled to Utah and lost by the score of 20-2.
In 2004 the Jaguars finished the NWFL regular season with an 8-2 record and an 8-4 overall record. The Jaguars again traveled to play the South Ogden Rhino-Raiders in a national playoff game and lost 34-18.
In 2005 the Jaguar organization brought on a new General Manager, Lorrie Jean Rarey. Ms. Rarey, a Certified Public Accountant with a firm in Auburn Washington, was a valuable addition to the business side of the organization. Rarey brought on a skilled (volunteer) staff to help with the organizations administrative duties and game day preparations. With the business administration, staffing and finances of the organization being handled by Rarey, Coach Scott was able to focus his full attention on the team. He then compiled a team of football players with outstanding ability, and a coaching staff with years of football experience. This nucleus of combined talent produced the greatest team in King County Jaguar history.
2005 saw the Jaguars win the NWFL Championship 21 to 6 over the West Sound Saints of Silverdale, WA. As NWFL champions the 2005 King County Jaguar team entered into the NAFL national tournament and advanced all the way to the NAFL Championship game at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, Florida, where they competed against the three time NAFL Champion Central Pennsylvania Piranha team. The Piranha defeated the Jaguars by the score of 28 to 3.
The 2005 Jaguars advanced to the NAFL championship game by defeating two undefeated teams: the Dallas Diesel 27-24, and the Arkansas Rhinos 55-22. The King County Jaguars ended their 2005 season as the 2005 Minor League Football News #1 AAA Ranked Western Regional Summer/Fall Semi-Professional football team. The Jaguars had their best winning season ever with an overall record of 14-1.
In 2006 the King County Jaguars defended their 2005 NWFL title, again defeating the West Sound Saints in the NWFL Championship with a score of 14 to 7. In that same year the King County Jaguars became members of the Minor League Football Association (MLFA West). The Jaguars played for the MLFA West National Championship against the Bay Tickets Inc. 49ers at Golden Gate Park's historic Kezar Stadium in San Francisco, CA. In this championship game the Jaguars held the lead against the home town 49er team at 14 to 13 for most of the game, but with 7 seconds remaining in the game the 49ers kicked a 25 yard field goal to win the game 16-14.
For 2006, the Jaguars were also the champions of the first ever Kent Cornucopia Bowl. The Jaguars finished their 2006 season with an overall record of 11-1.
On April 1, 2007 the structure and ownership of the Jaguars changed. The team is now owned and operated by King County Jaguars Football, LLC, an ownership group consisting of Jaguars long time owner, Jeff Scott, General Manager, Lorrie Jean Rarey and Norm Larson, a prominent local businessman. Norm and his wife Kim have been long time supporters of the Jaguars through their company, Centre Pointe Consulting. The Larson’s are also the proud new owners of the Big Red Barn in Kent.
The 2007 season faces its own challenges. The Kent School District is resurfacing French Field and installing new field turf so the Jaguars have moved their 2007 season home games to Auburns Memorial Stadium. The Jaguars will be back in Kent at French Field for their 2008 season.

External links

★ NWFL website

★ Jaguars website