My dad and Allen Jay played Ahoskie for the Eastern state title in 1970. Murphy won the west. Ahoskie consolidated and integrated that year, giving them 1200 students in 2A ball. Allen Jay had 300 to 400 kids but no 1A schools in the area so they played up and went all the way to the finals but lost to Ahoskie 28-12. Dad was injured on the opening kickoff. Played middle linebacker in a 5-3, played left guard in an old school wing t, and snapped for punts and played kickoffs and kick returns. Got clipped at the knees and went out opening kick. Also played in the North South game at Greenville that year. Only had 23 guys on the team, so the fact they got past Elizabethtown who was ranked no. 2 in 2A in the semis and got to the finals was crazy.
Ahoskie lost to Havelock early and Tarboro near the end of regular season. They upset number 1 Jordan Matthews who was killing everyone and only allowing 2 ppg on defense. Ahoskie won 14-12 and then beat AJ to claim the title. They moved up to 3A the next year.
Allen Jay consolidated into Southwest and Southern Guilford in 1979 and was the last gasp of community schools around here.
