“The 1980s produced Blair Thomas, Ed Monaghan, Chris Flynn — and Pat Manzi at McDevitt running the whole decade like it was his.”
The 1980s is when Philly Catholic League football hit its apex. Pat Manzi at Cardinal O'Hara and then John McDevitt was doing something that other coaches were watching from a distance, trying to figure out how to replicate. You couldn't replicate it. It was Manzi.
Blair Thomas at Frankford was the story of what the Public League could produce. He ran through Catholic and Public League defenses the same way — with authority — and went on to be a first-round NFL pick. Ted named him the Overall Player of the Decade. That means something. Across a decade when Philly was loaded, Blair Thomas was the best player in the city.
Ed Monaghan at Bonner represented the Catholic League pick. Chris Flynn at Episcopal took the Inter-Ac honor. Three different worlds of Philly football, all producing players worthy of decade recognition.
The 1980s All-Decade list runs First Team only — Ted documented the elite tier and let that speak for itself. Twenty-five-plus picks, offense and defense, schools representing every corner of the city and suburbs. This is what Philly football looked like when it was at its peak.
Selections by Ted Silary. Originally published on TedSilary.com. Preserved and republished by PhillySportsPack.