Blue Devil Players and Coach Return after 51 Years
A half-century after they starred on the Blue Devil football team, a group of Huntington High School alumni stood on the running track before a crowd of about 2,000 last Saturday afternoon to take a bow as their coach, 88-year old Al D’Onofrio was presented with the original trophy from the 1958 championship season.
The short ceremony came near the conclusion of a series of half-time events. In the crowd were members of Huntington’s Class of 1959, who were participating in a 50th anniversary reunion weekend. “This class was the first class to graduate from Huntington High School on Oakwood Road,” Director of Athletics Georgia D. McCarthy told fans. “Previously, the high school was located in the building that is now the Town Hall on Main Street.”
The 1958 Blue Devils won the co-championship after reeling off five straight mid-season victories over Northport (19-0), Lindenhurst (27-7), Bay Shore (14-0), Amityville (21-14) and Walt Whitman (13-12). The Blue Devils, which outscored their opponents 119-80, dropped the opening game to Riverhead (25-19) and lost the season finale to powerful Port Jefferson (22-6).
“We recognize their achievement today and the head coach that led that team to victory,” Mrs. McCarthy said before introducing six players and their coach.
Blue Devil quarterback Brian Clermont, a retired businessman who lives in Northport, received applause as did halfback Ray Rolfe, now a landscape architect residing in Greenlawn and tackle Gene Niedzielski, an Exeter, New Hampshire dentist.
Dale Schlafer, a former Blue Devil guard who is now a minister and faculty member of the Institute of Campus Revival and Awakening, as well as the author of several books, returned to his alma mater from his home in Bradenton, Florida.
Don Smith, a star running back who is retired from the Town of Huntington and who resides locally, looked like he was ready to suit up on Saturday and return to the Huntington backfield. Jerry Asher, who played at quarterback and running back and was co-captain of the 1958 team, was also on the track. He, too, lives locally and is serving as a Suffolk District Court judge. Mr. Asher frequently attends Blue Devil games.
Perhaps the warmest welcome was reserved for Mr. D’Onofrio, who attended with his wife and rode into the complex in the athletic department’s golf cart. He looked great and team members were thrilled to have him there. Mrs. McCarthy said he “is a man who is admired, respected and beloved by his players.”
Mr. D’Onofrio worked at Huntington High School for 35 years as a physical education teacher, coach and athletic director. In seven years as head football coach he compiled a mark of 29-20-2 for a .588 winning percentage and developed several legendary players between 1954 and 1960.
The football greats were given commemorative shirts and Mr. Asher and his teammates presented a Blue Devil pullover jacket to their old coach with his name embroidered on the front. When Mrs. McCarthy handed the large co-championship trophy to Mr. D’Onofrio, he held it in his hands and read the engraved names of team members with tears welling in his eyes.
“It was a special day,” Mrs. McCarthy said.
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