Bellport football welcomes past greats into its Hall of Fame

Bellport High School football is celebrating its 50th year this season.

On Saturday, the football Hall of Fame enshrined some of the greatest players from past Clipper teams in an on-field ceremony during halftime of the game against Smithtown East.

“It’s great to see the guys and their accomplishments and the feeling they still have for Bellport football,” said former coach Joe Cipp Jr., who coached many of the players during his years as coach from 1976 to 2010. “Most of the kids say it was the greatest high school experience they had, which is pretty cool.”

The 15 greats covered five decades of Bellport football, from the 1980s through the 2020s, and included players like brothers Darnell Milton, 60, (Class of 1982) and Derrick Milton, 59, (Class of 1983) both of whom traveled from their homes in Atlanta for the ceremony. They were part of the undefeated 1982 team that was the first Suffolk County champion in the school’s history. (The Clippers have won a total of 13 county championships and six Long Island championships.)

“It’s a family-oriented program,” Derrick Milton said, pointing to some of the traditions the football team has embraced over the years. “We love each other year in and year out, from the breakfasts on Saturday morning to the Friday night helmet stickers, to people staying in touch—it’s about family.”

Donte Phillips, who was an all-state player in 2021 and 2022 and rushed for more yards (3,352) than any player in Bellport history, said being enshrined in the Hall of Fame “means everything.”

“It’s a beautiful program,” he said. “I loved everything they did. It made me who I am. I appreciate every single moment.”

Jack Halpin, who was an all-state quarterback for the Clippers in 2021, said Bellport stands out for the role football plays in the community.

“It’s a small community,” said Halpin, who holds the school record for longest touchdown pass (95 yards). “Everyone kind of knows each other. It brings everyone from all different cultures together on the field as a team. You get to respond together. It’s really a great experience. There’s nothing like it, honestly, at any other school.”

As for the current Clippers team, Bellport won its game Saturday, 20-14, over Smithtown East in the final regular-season game. Bellport finished 5-3. They open the postseason on the road at Northport at noon on Saturday.

Here are the players who were enshrined in the Hall of Fame on Saturday, with information provided by Bellport football:

• Darnell Milton (Class of 1982) linebacker, offensive line, member of 1982 undefeated Suffolk County championship team
• Derrick Milton (Class of 1983), running back, linebacker, member of 1982 undefeated Suffolk County championship team
• Steven Branch (Class of 1984), wide receiver, first team all-state and all-Long Island, holds school record for most receiving touchdowns in a game (three)
• Jim Gallagher (Class of 1986), all-American quarterback, member of the undefeated 1985 league championship team
• Damon Weston (Class of 1996), quarterback and defensive end, all-state, member of teams that won the Long Island championship and Suffolk County championship
• Justin Halpin (Class of 1999), all-state quarterback, fourth in passing touchdowns in a season and eighth in career passing touchdowns
• Denzel Person (Class of 2006), wide receiver and defensive back, all-state, member of undefeated teams that won the Long Island championship and Suffolk County championship
• Dante Johnson (Class of 2010), defensive end, all-state and all-Long Island, member of Long Island championship team
• Conor Havertry (Class of 2014), linebacker, holds school record for most career total tackles (314)
• Cole Cipp (Class of 2014), wide receiver and defensive back, all-state, National Football Foundation Golden Eleven Scholar-Athlete, Big Four champion
• Ka’Shaun Parrish (Class of 2020), running back and defensive back, first team all-Long Island, holds school records for career receiving touchdowns (14) and longest receiving touchdown (95 yards)
• Calvin Pedatella (Class of 2021), linebacker and tight end, member of Suffolk County championship team, National Football Foundation Golden Eleven Scholar-Athlete
• Jack Halpin (Class of 2022), quarterback, all-state and first team all-Long Island, member of Suffolk County championship team, holds school records for longest passing touchdown (95 twice) and longest fumble return for a touchdown (73 yards)
• Donte Phillips (Class of 2022), running back and defensive back, first team all-state and all-Long Island, Cipp Award winner, two time Suffolk County champion, holds school records for most career rushing yards (3,352) and most rushing carries in a season (240)
• Jason Hunt (Class of 2022), defensive end, receiver, first team all-state and all-Long Island, two time Suffolk County champion, Burnett Award winner, holds school record for most career sacks (27), most sacks in a season (18) and most interceptions in a game (three)