For two years I played football against Eastern Guilford as a McMichael Phoenix of Mayodan N.C. When I heard the news about the Wildcats’ school going down in flames, I was shocked.

Thanks to their uniforms being salvaged after the fire, Eastern Guilford can strap on the pads for a postseason run in the 2-A state playoffs at Northwood High School.

Two days after the tragedy, the Wildcats took to the field and were defeated, 40-38.

Nevertheless, Eastern Guilford can consider themselves champions in the eyes of the Greensboro community. By far, the 2002 Wildcats left a lasting memory for McMichael and it is one I will never forget.

Eastern Guilford will not go down without a fight.

On Monday, A&T reached out to Eastern Guilford and held a benefit ceremony in their honor.  It was a great turnout.

During the open-mic session, sophomore Wildcat Katy Osborne walked to the podium to speak about her school’s spirit.  She was honest in her testimony.

“Since the fire,” Osborne said.  “A lot of good has come out of it.”

Before the incident, she said her fellow Wildcats had no school spirit. Now, everyone is coming together.

In 2003, I can honestly say the Phoenix were in the same boat with school spirit. McMichael once dressed 21 players in a game. Now think about going against teams with more than 60 players.

Not an easy task by any means.

This season I made the drive down to Peeden Drive, the home of the wildcats, on the eastern part of Greensboro to cover a game for the News & Record. I am still in disbelief that Eastern Guilford is no more.

I’m sure Eastern Guilford’s great Torry Holt is shocked. Holt, a Greensboro native and future Hall-of-Famer, was drafted by the Rams in 1999.

So it is now that I offer Eastern Guilford our school mascot, the Phoenix. Eastern Guilford will rise from the ashes.

“You shall rise again,” said Lt. Barry Black, an Eastern Guilford alumni and member of the A&T police department.  “You can’t kill Wildcat pride.”

• Darrick Ignasiak