The Buffalo Bills, in partnership with the National Football League, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), and the New York State Association of Certified Football Officials (NYSACFO), wish to honor five football officials from the Rochester Chapter as the "Crew of the Month" for November 2025 for enhancing the student-athlete experience for high school football players in the region.
The men, with nearly 100 combined years of officiating experience, include: David Cohan (Referee), Darin Tyson (Umpire), Billy Bowe (Head Linesman), Scott Englerth (Line Judge), and Brian Labigan (Back Judge). The crew is recognized as the highest-ranking crew in the Rochester area for their excellence, consistency, and integrity. They spearhead the development of football officials and maintain the Rochester Chapter's high levels of professionalism. Off the field, their lifelong dedication to community service and career professions speaks volumes about their character and commitment to giving back.
David Cohan (Referee) has been a Section V (Rochester) football official since 1994. With the Rochester Chapter of Certified Football Officials (RCCFO), he has served as President, Vice President, and Past Chairperson of the Sportsmanship Committee. Dave has worked numerous Section V Sectional Finals, as well as NYSPHSAA Regional and Semifinal games, and three NYSPHSAA championship games as the Referee at the Carrier Dome. Dave was honored as the 2016 RCCFO Official of the Year. He has also been a basketball official for 34 years and was the Official of the Year in 2012.
Darin Tyson (Umpire) is a veteran football official with 22 years of high school experience. He has worked multiple conference, sectional, and semifinal championships, two state football championships (North Carolina & Oklahoma), and one state basketball championship (NC). At the collegiate level, he has officiated nine seasons of football (NCAA Division III), two seasons of basketball (Division III), and 17 seasons of baseball (Divisions I, II & III), highlighted by two NCAA Regional assignments.
Billy Bowe (Head Linesman) has been a member of the Rochester Chapter of Certified Football Officials since 2020. He has been assigned to work various levels of Section V football games, including title games. He has also been assigned to NYSPHSAA semifinal contests. With the evolution and growth of Girls Flag Football, he has also officiated flag games for Sectionals and a NYSPHSAA Regional. Billy has supported Section V interscholastic and collegiate basketball by serving as the head coach at McQuaid Jesuit, Canandaigua Academy, and Brockport State. He is an inductee of the Section V Baseball Hall of Fame.
Brian Labigan (Back Judge) has been a member of the RCCFO for 18 years. He began umpiring Little League Baseball at 14. Brian has served on the RCCFO Executive Board for the past 6 years as head of the Nominations Committee. He has worked multiple Section V Sectional Finals, five NYSPHSAA semifinals, and two state final games.
The Buffalo Bills are one of 18 NFL teams participating in recognizing high school football officials for their contributions to their communities. Each month of the high school football season, the Bills work with NYSACFO to identify officials who deserve the honor. The state association comprises 19 chapters across New York and 1,500 members who support high school football.
For additional information on the Crew of the Month program, please visit https://playfootball.nfl.com/resources/officiating/.
Anyone interested in becoming an official, please visit https://nysacfo.com/signupform/.
