Cannoneers grind out win

Voorheesville

In looking at his team's 2019 schedule prior to the season, Watervliet football coach Pete Porcelli knew a Week 5 contest at Voorheesville had the potential to be a game that could catapult a young squad to the next level. Saturday afternoon, the Cannoneers shook off close losses in their previous two outings and delivered the all-around performance Porcelli and his coaching staff envisioned.

Watervliet's Double-Wing offense churned out more rushing attempts than yards gained by Voorheesville, including producing a trio of prolonged touchdown drives, in earning a 22-0 Class C South Division win over the Blackbirds.

The win moved Watervliet (3-2 overall, 2-0 South Division) atop the division standings, spoiled Voorheesville's Homecoming Game and earned the Cannoneers possession of the Buckley/Reinfurt Cup awarded to the winner since 2017.

"This is a big win. We worked really hard in practice this week. We wanted this win," Watervliet senior wingback Kareem Duncan said. "We came here two years ago and lost. Last year, we lost the Cup. We wanted to win and bring it back to Watervliet."

With his team gathered in one end zone after the game, the Cannoneers presented Porcelli with the Buckley/Reinfurt Cup. The veteran coach, in his first year coaching at Watervliet, kissed the hardware and then addressed his team. He told them a game like Saturday's helped put the Cannoneers back on the map after a 2-6 season in 2018.

"This one was for Danny Reinfurt and his family," Porcelli said. "I know Danny is watching over us and the kids really wanted this one. They showed the grit, toughness and resiliency to stick with the program and beat a good Voorheesville team."

Watervliet did not resemble a team that lost games against Class B foe Hudson (50-44 in overtime) and...