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03/03/2017 11:00 PMThe 57th anniversary of the Casey-O’Brien New Haven County Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame will be held on Friday, March 31 at Fantasia on 404 Washington Ave. in North Haven. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the march to the head table at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $50 by sending a check payable to ‘National Football Foundation’ to Donna Limone at 10 Ludlow Court, Branford CT, 06405, or by calling Limone at 203-481-8375.
Twenty-seven high school and prep school athletes who play football will be honored for academic excellence, leadership, and citizenship at the event. Among the athletes being honored at this year’s dinner are East Haven’s Dominic Manna, North Haven resident and Hamden Hall student Corey Millhouse, Hand’s Nicholas Leone, Guilford resident and Hopkins student Jake Moscarelli, North Branford’s Dillon Blake, and North Haven’s Max Sullivan.
“Once again, we are honoring an outstanding group of young men,” said chapter president Bill O’Brien. “Their accomplishments in the classroom, on the field, and in the community bring honor and distinction to their parents, their school, and their community.”
Other award winners include legendary East Haven coach Frank Crisafi, who coached both football and basketball for more than 30 years, in addition to coaching baseball for nine. Crisafi won a combined 772 games, 12 Housatonic League championships, and six state championships, along with the New England Class B basketball championship in 1954. The East Haven football field was named after Crisafi in 1973.
The Chapter Award of Merit will be presented to two longtime chapter members and coaches for their years of service to the chapter. Retiring coaches Steve Filippone from Hand and Tom Marcucci of Notre Dame-West Haven coached for 38 and 43 years, respectively, recording a combined total of 402 wins with nine state championships.
The chapter’s Coach of the Year Award will be presented to Reggie Lytle of Hillhouse, which won the Class M state championship in 2016. The Academics finished 9-1 during the regular season and then swept through the Class M State Playoffs with wins over New Fairfield, Killingly, and then St. Joseph in the title game to finish 12-1.
In addition, Michael Moran of North Haven will receive the Official Recognition Award as selected by the New Haven Football Officials Association. An official since 1994, Moran has officiated five CIAC State Playoff games. The chapter will also present championship awards to Hillhouse and Ansonia for winning the Class M and S state titles, respectively.