A combined 765 pounds of “Grade A” beef; the 2025 Thomas winners were responsible for aiding their respective schools in stockpiling over 12,000 yards and 132 touchdowns this fall….Two of our three choices serving in an “Ironman” capacity; they also collectively register over 80 stops, 17 TFLs, and 12 sacks this season…Representing teams that all earned top-3 playoff seeds in their respective classifications, two of today’s awardees were invaluable in culminating successful repeat title bids…
It is with utter respect and admiration that we welcome Aiden Flood (Xaverian; AA-2), Anthony Brown (St. Francis Prep; AA-1), and Anthony DiNapoli (Iona Prep; AAA) to the Thomas fraternity!
Called the “anchor of the trenches” by Clippers head coach, Dominick Aluotto, Flood dominated on both sides of the line of scrimmage in helping Xaverian repeat as Metro Catholic champions….Credited with 23 pancake blocks, his presence on the OL made it possible for the boys from Brooklyn to accrue over 3,000 yards and score 44 touchdowns this season (27 on the ground, 17 in the air). His superb blocking made it possible for Junior RB, Richie Aiken, and Senior QB, Terrence Watson, to each have breakout campaigns due to the confidence provided by his security…Defensively, he was an eraser, as he posted team-bests for TFLs (12) and sacks (9) while registering approximately 40 total stops this fall….His win today marking the second consecutive year in which a Clipper student-athlete received this award; Flood joins previous honorees—Michael Marinelli (2015) and Thomas Regan (2024)…Only a junior; he will return in 2026 with the opportunity to become the first two-time Thomas recipient!
The first Terrier to take home the Thomas; the 265-pounder hailing from Baldwin showed why he just completed his second year as a team captain…A pillar of strength in all areas, the leadership of Brown yielded a top-3 for St. Francis Prep as the offense was able to hum to the tune of a 3,000-yard campaign (2,994 to be exact) that generated 31 cumulative touchdowns…On “D”, he’d rack up a solid 41 total stops, including five tackles for loss and three QB bags to set the tone!…The fact that he donned the #56 jersey every week being fitting; the breadth of his efforts resembled that of Quentin Nelson and/or Lawrence Taylor!
Signing his national letter of intent just days ago to continue his brilliant career on the gridiron as part of the program at Central Connecticut State; the 280-pound three-year starting OL for the Gaels [DiNapoli] was literally a mover and a shaker in vaulting Iona Prep to three straight league finals appearances (back-to-back champs in ‘24 and ‘25), as well as a pair of NYCHSAA State crowns….Living proof that behind every showstopping skill player is a man behind the scenes “doing the dirty work”; if you ask his heralded/All-State teammates—Crew Davis (1,305 yards; 16 TDs rushing) & Julian Guzman (32 cumulative touchdowns; 2,380 in the air; 804 with his legs); none of their prosperity would have been possible without big #77 paving the way and keeping them upright…The squad averaging over 30ppg in each of his three seasons manning the battle zone; this past year, they exploded for a league-best 41.4 points per game en route to a 11-1 record and the #1 ranking in NYS!…All in all, they amassed 5,104 yards (2,495 in the sky, 2,610 rushing) of production while finding paydirt on 57 separate occasions (36 running, 21 passing)!….Following in the footsteps of Gael predecessors—Anthony Bonavita (2018), Scott Becker (2021), and last year’s selection, Rowan Byrne (2024);
