In 1991, the Chicago Bulls won their first NBA championship, the World Wide Web was launched, the band Nirvana propelled the grunge genre into the mainstream, and the psychological thriller The Silence of the Lambs topped the box office. That same year, the Watervliet Cannoneers varsity football team won the New York State Championship! Now — 34 years later — the team is being inducted into the Capital Region Football Hall of Fame.
Dominating the gridiron
Watervliet teams of that era excelled on the gridiron. From 1989-1992, Cannoneer teams won 36 straight football games. Despite the departure of 13 senior players, the 1991 team continued to dominate and carried on the legacy of Watervliet’s 1990 team, who also had a perfect season and won the New York State Class C title the year prior.
The 1991 football team finished with an 11-0 undefeated season record and captured the NYSPHSAA Class C Regional championship on the road to becoming state champions for the second consecutive year.
During the ’91 season, the Cannoneers scored 457 total points while allowing only 52 points. Their offense was relentless, scoring more than 40 points in eight of their eleven games, while their defense was stifling in holding their opponents to single digits in 10 of their 11 games.
The team was led by captains Jim Manning, Greg Adkins, Jeff Forgue, and Erick Bernard. Jim Manning, a running back, was voted a USA Today All American, and named the NYS Sportswriters Association Small School Player of the Year. Manning, along with tackle Greg Adkins and linebacker Jeff Forgue, were named to the NYS Sportswriters First Team.
Head coach Dan Reinfurt, offensive coordinator Mike Manning, defensive coordinator Tony Curro, and several assistant coaches guided the team during this incredible season.
Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
The Class of 2025 Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place Saturday, August 9 at the Polish Community Center in Albany. Tickets for the event are $70. Anyone planning to attend should register by July 30. Visit https://CRFHOF8925.eventbrite.com for more information.
Congratulations to everyone who played a role in the success of the 1991 championship team!