STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.— Despite a tough loss to Brooklyn Tech on Friday evening, the New Dorp football program still had reason to celebrate, as the school honored its 1985 PSAL city championship team— marking the 40th anniversary of one of Staten Island football’s all-time great triumphs.
Finishing the regular season with a 7-2-1 record, the 1985 Centrals leaned on a suffocating defense to power a memorable playoff run— edging August Martin 6-0 in the quarterfinals, beating Lehman 14-7 in the semifinals and clinching the title with a 7-6 win over South Shore, sealed by a clutch blocked PAT from the late team captain Rich Cortese.
Among those in attendance Friday night were former head coach Joe Avena, quarterback Frank D’Alessio and defensive back Glenn Goldberg— all New Dorp Athletics Hall of Famers— who relished the chance to reflect on shared memories and pass along wisdom to the current team.
“Besides the championship, we’re really celebrating the gratitude we have for being New Dorp football players,” D’Alessio said.
“We had a competitive advantage agaisnt every team we played because of the tradition that was handed down to us. Today was like going back in time— and now we’re here as brothers with the current Centrals,” he continued.
In addition to recognizing his teammates’ talent during that special season, D’Alessio was quick to credit Avena’s lasting influence, saying, “What we learned from him took us into life; he didn’t only coach us as players, but as the whole person, too.”
An article from the Staten Island Advance detailing the Centrals’ city triumph still hangs in the New Dorp Athletics Hall of Fame.Michael O’Brien
Avena— who also won a city title as a New Dorp player in 1959— shared that “It’s very special to be back. This is the first time I’ve been to a New Dorp night game in a long time; I was impressed with the crowd and spirit. Between celebrating the 40th anniversary of our championship team and seeing everyone again, it’s a thrill and makes us all feel good.”
He also reflected on his players’ efforts that season in delivering a title, noting, “I think they were special.”
“That spirit— whatever it was— they had it, and I haven’t seen anything better, even after 60 years of coaching. I don’t know if it’s the school, Staten Island, or the people, but there’s something special about this place, this group of guys, and the football tradition here.”
Goldberg, who recorded multiple interceptions as part of New Dorp’s elite playoff defense, echoed his coach and teammate, noting, “I don’t think there are any other schools around that have this level of tradition.”
He also reflected on how quickly the bond between teammates resurfaced, sharing, “I hadn’t seen Frank in a while, but coming back today, it was like I might as well have seen him yesterday. It’s like a family here.”
As for how the ’85 team— still the most recent Centrals squad to win a city title— continues to influence the program today, current head coach Brian Murphy, whom Avena called “a carrier of the tradition,” shared how meaningful it was to help honor such an exceptional group.
“It means a lot because I know how much those guys care about New Dorp, and that’s what I try to do each day,” he shared.
“All the coaches before me did the same thing, so I’m just trying to follow him and do the right thing by the school. It’s a great place,” he continued.
He also recounted how instantly memorable Avena addressing his own group of players was, saying, “That’s a moment I won’t forget.”
“He gave a pre-game speech for our kids with everybody huddled together and it was a really nice moment; one of the highlights of my coaching career, actually,” he concluded.
Two generations of New Dorp Centrals pose together (left to right: Robert Zajac, Freddie Santana, Frank D’Alessio, Glenn Goldberg and Kwame Domfe) as the school’s 1985 city championship-winning team was honored on Oct. 17, 2025.Michael O’Brien
As New Dorp continues its climb back toward the PSAL summit, it’s clear that both Murphy and his players have drawn inspiration from the legendary 1985 team— and just as clear that Avena, D’Alessio, Goldberg, and others remain deeply proud to be Centrals, all these years later.
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