Conferences

A Note:

In North Carolina, classifications and conferences are set up by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. There are four classifications (1A-4A), with 1A being the smallest schools and 4A representing the large schools. For example, Columbia is a 1A whereas Charlotte Independence is a 4A. Classifications were traditionally determined by a school's ADM which is an average daily attendance figure for each school, but for 2021 were based on a composite index that was based on population, but adjusted for prior overall athletic success and income/poverty metrics. Conferences, meanwhile are determined by a mix of factors, including size and travel times. The conferences are meant to be competitive while not out of the way (hence why Currituck, as a 3A, is grouped with 2As that are all nearby, whereas most 3As are far drives from Barco). Classifications and conferences are realigned by the NCHSAA every four years. Below, the years listed for the conferences begin with the fall sports and the date ends with the spring sports. 

Currently, Currituck is a member of the...

Northeastern Coastal Conference

Current Conference (2021):

In the fall of 2021, the Northeastern Coastal Conference will undergo a restoration of sorts. Essentially, the conference will revert to its original membership (plus First Flight), add Camden, and go back to being a split 2A/3A conference. Thus, the new conference will have 8 participants: 2-A members Camden (Camden's first time in 2-A since the mid-80s), Hertford, Edenton, Manteo, Northeastern, Pasquotank, and 3-A members Currituck and First Flight (for the first time ever as a 3A). This is the first time Currituck will be in a conference with Manteo since 2004-5 school year and Camden since the 1992-93 school year. Additionally, Edenton returned after a four year absence. 

2017 Version:

In 2017, the all 2-A Northeastern Coastal Conference operated with just 6 teams spread across the vast reaches of Northeast North Carolina, from the Atlantic Ocean in the East to the Roanoke River in the West. These six are: Currituck, First Flight, Northeastern, Pasquotank, Hertford County, and Bertie High Schools. In this alignment, former conference member Edenton dropped down to the 1A ranks. It is the first time since the 1989 alignment-operating from 1989 football season to the 1992 football season-that Currituck did not share a conference with the Aces.

2013 Version:

With re-alignment now finalized, the Northeastern Coastal will officially remain together for yet another four years. This record of longevity is even more impressive when compared with our neighbors. Camden, for example will enter is 4th dramatically altered conference since 2001 in the fall of '13. There is, though, one change for the seven members of the NCC (Bertie, Hertford, Edenton, Pasquotank, Northeastern, Currituck & First Flight): No longer will the conference be of the split variety. For the past decade, the NCC has dealt with the annoyance of having 3A members and a host of 2As. What in 2001 began with a 3-4 split had dwindled to a 2-5 division. However, for 2013 both Hertford County and Currituck will join their conference mates in the 2A ranks greatly simplifying the playoff qualification process.

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There is only one change in the new NCC that kicked off in the fall of 2009. Previous 3A Bertie slid down to 2A. Otherwise, the conference remains intact with Currituck and Hertford as 3As and Northeastern, Pasquotank, First Flight, Edenton and now Bertie as 2A members. Also remaining intact was the dominant schools of the conference, with Hertford rolling off a 6-0 conference record in 2009 for their fourth championship. The next year, Northeastern scored its third title, en route to the 2AA State Title Game. In 2011, Currituck, Northeastern and Edenton battled for the crown creating a "3 teams, 3 Weeks, 3 Games" situation. After Northeastern won in Barco in week nine, and Edenton shut out Currituck in week ten, the Aces and Eagles squared off on the last week of the season for the conference crown. The result was a fourth quarter miracle comeback to give Edenton the win, and a cap on its first season of relevance since 2004. As for the Knights, they captured the #1 3A slot, a first. 2012 will be the last season of the 2009 edition of the NCC.

2005-2009: Northeastern Coastal

All the 2005 realignment did was to shorten the NCC's boundaries slightly by losing Manteo as a conference member. Replacing Manteo at the 3A level was Currituck. Thus, the 7 team conference held 3 3As: Bertie, Hertford and Currituck and 4 2As: Northeastern, Pasquotank, First Flight and Edenton. In 2005, Northeastern won the NEC, while Hertford took the title in 2006, Bertie was best in 2007, and Northeastern won  again in 2008. Currituck's top finish was 3rd overall in '07.

2001-2005: Northeastern Coastal

The new Northeastern Coastal Conference was a spilt 2A/3A conference and the first one featuring schools relativity close to Elizabeth City. The split was 3 3As: Bertie and Hertford who came from the Big Eight, as well as Manteo. In the 2A ranks, the conference welcomed Northeastern from the 4A Big East, to join Currituck, Edenton and Pasquotank from the NEAC. Bertie, fresh off a 3A state title was champs in 2001, Manteo won in 2002, Hertford was victorious in 2003 while Edenton reigned supreme in 2004. Also in 2004, First Flight High School opened in Kill Devil Hills and was placed as a 2A in the NCC, giving the league eight schools. Manteo meanwhile played the '04 season as a 2A before going down to 1A the following year.

1997-2001: Northeastern-Albemarle

The Northeastern-Albemarle Conference was one of the most bizarre conferences ever seen in North Carolina. While traditionally split conferences are between just two classifications, in this realignment the NEAC saw schools in 1A, 2A and 3A make up the conference. Another twist was the name, as a newer conference name was merged with a long standing North Carolina Conference's name. A further detail of interest was the fact that after nearly 25 years as a member of the Albemarle Conference (spring 1973 to spring 1997) Camden County was no longer a conference member, moving to the Tobacco Belt Conference. This new conference would hold seven schools, 1 3A, 3 2As, and 3 1As. At the 3A level was Manteo, its first ever affiliation as a 3A. Currituck, Edenton and Plymouth reminded 2As from the last realignment and made up the new conferences 2As. These aforementioned schools were all representatives from the previous Northeastern Conference. From the old Albemarle Conference came just two schools-1As Williamston and Perquimans. Meanwhile Northside-Pinetown moved down from 2A to 1A and came over from the Eastern Plains Conference. In the conference's last football season, 2000, another 1A school was added: just opened Pasquotank High School. In 2000, Northside and Edenton tied for the conference championship (Edenton won the head-to-head game). Undefeated and 1A state champion Williamston easily took home the title in 1999, after Edenton had gone back to back with conference wins in 1997 and 1998. Currituck never reached the playoffs in this conference, although in 1997 it was in contention until the final week when Edenton once again knocked out the Knights.

1993-1997: Northeastern

In the 1993 realignment Currituck and Manteo both joined the 2A Northeastern Conference. The other members of this conference would be John A Holmes (Edenton), Plymouth, Roanoke Rapids, and Southeast Halifax. In this alignment, the conference only got two playoff births, of which Currituck would only earn one in '93. Edenton-Holmes was conference champ in 1993, Manteo won in 1994, while Plymouth repeated in 1995 and 1996. In '95, Plymouth was 11-0 in the regular season and finished it tied for number one in 2A with Thomasville. In 1996, Edenton eliminated Currituck for the final berth in the last week of the season.

1989-1993: Albemarle

Following the 1989 realignment, the Albemarle Conference went unchanged. All seven schools (Currituck, Camden, Manteo, Perquimans, Gates, Weldon and Northampton-West) the made up the conference in 1988 remained in 1989, with no additions, although Weldon failed to field a team that season. Currituck stomped the competition en route to a state championship appearance in 1989, and followed it up with a conference title again in 1990. Gates won its first championship in since 1979 in 1991. Although Gates was better overall in 1992, Northampton West won the conference. 1992 would be Currituck's last as both a 1A (which it had been since 1985) and as a member of the Albemarle Conference (which it had been a member of since 1973).

1985-1989: Albemarle

The Albemarle Conference was not spared from change during the 1985 realignment. To begin with the conference itself moved down from 2A to 1A (this was due in part to a state wide expansion of the 1A ranks. Previously, NC schools had been divided on a bell curve procedure, allowing for more 2As and 3As. For '85, the NCHSAA opted to go to an equal breakdown model with all alignments getting 25% of membership). All six schools (Currituck, Camden, Manteo, Perquimans, Gates and Murfreesboro) from the previous Albemarle Conference moved down with the conference. Joining as new members for the 1985 season were Weldon and Northampton West. This gave the conference eight squads. In 1987, however, it was announced that Murfreesboro would merge with Ahoskie to form the new Hertford County High School. Thus, in 1988, the conference was reduced to seven schools with the exit of that long time member. Currituck repeated as Albemarle Champs in 1985, while Northampton-West took the title back to back in 1986 and 1987. In 1988, Currituck returned to first place.

1981-1985: Albemarle

The 1981 realignment saw a few more changes to the conference makeup than the 1977 one. Gumberry and Northampton both moved up to 3A (though a merger in Northampton schools would soon result in Gumberry + Gaston creating Northampton-West, while the County High became Northampton East) leaving the Albemarle for the Roanoke River Conference (which went for a 2A to a 3A conference). Meanwhile, Manteo moved up to 2A from 1A, and joined the Albemarle Conference, thus giving new life and meaning to the Manteo-Currituck rivalry. This left the conference with six schools: Currituck, Camden, Manteo, Gates, Murfreesboro and Perquimans. Perquimans would capture the new look conference championship in 1981, while Manteo took first in both 1982 and 1983 (while Currituck finished 2nd in the latter season). In 1984, the Knights won the conference in the last year before realignment.

1977-1981: Albemarle

In the 1977 realignment, the Albemarle Conference was virtually unchanged from the previous few years.  Indeed, the only change was the move of Scotland Neck to the Roanoke River Conference leaving Albemarle with seven schools (Gates, Gumberry, Murfreesboro, Northampton, Perquimans, Camden and Currituck). The 1977 champions was Perquimans, while Currituck caputured the the crown in 1978 (in the '78 regular season, the Knights finished in a three way tie with Camden and Perquimans. All three coaches came together to draw a number 1 through 3 to determine whose squad was to be champion. Currituck's Bob Sapp drew first and select one giving Currituck the 1978 Albemarle Championship), and won its first ever playoff game. After Gates won in 1979, Currituck took home the conference again in 1980 en route to the state championship game.

1973-1977: Albemarle (as Knapp and Currituck)

The 1976 Football season was Currituck's first ever, and its only in this incarnation of the Albemarle Conference. Naturally, the Knights won the conference, posting a 6-4 record to repeat as conference champs.

1960-1973: Tidewater (see section on Knapp)