The Buffalo Bills, in partnership with Visa, announced the 2026 Week Ten High School Tackle Football Coaches of the Week. This week's recipients are Buffalo Region Coach of the Week Eric Valley (Orleans Rivals) and Rochester Coach of the Week Michael Bauer (Notre Dame Batavia/Byron-Bergen).
Aimed at highlighting tackle football coaches' efforts on and off the field, coaches from both the Buffalo and Rochester regions will be recognized throughout the course of the season for their team's excellence on the field and their service to their communities.
As part of the program, each winning coach's program will receive $1,000 from the Buffalo Bills and Visa, and each region's Coach of the Year will receive an additional $1,000 and be celebrated on the field at Highmark Stadium before the Bills vs. Jets game in January.
Check back each week for updates on the Buffalo and Rochester Coach of the Week winners, and good luck to all the teams in our community.
Buffalo Region Coach of the Week
Orleans County head coach Eric Valley was named Buffalo region Coach of the Week for the week ending Sunday, November 8, after leading the Rivals to a 21-6 win over Pioneer in the Section VI Class B semifinals. The win improved OC (Medina/Albion) record to 9-1. The Rivals will face West Seneca East in Friday's sectional title game at the University at Buffalo. WSE won the regular-season battle between the two teams, 35-34.
"We knew it was going to be a very physical battle," Valley said. "Our team is starting to gel defensively and starting to play a little more physical ourselves. Our kids are playing more confidently and faster."
Senior quarterback Preston Woodworth and running backs Noah Harrison and Elijah Doxey led the Rivals' attack. Harrison carried seven times for 58 yards and two scores, while Doxey added 71 yards rushing on 12 carries to go along with five catches for 46 yards. Harrison also tallied12 tackles, including one for loss, and a pass break up.
Valley played at Medina High School and graduated in 1991 before playing collegiately at Cortland State. He began his career as a linebacker and played four positions in four years, including defensive end, fullback and tight end.
Valley was hired at Medina as a long-term substitute art teacher and was named as a junior varsity assistant by Nick Benedetti, who was his high school coach. After 12 years in the program, Valley was named Medina's head coach. He won 104 games and two Section VI titles during his 18 years with Medina before leading the merger effort with his oldest rival.
And there is virtually nothing left of either program as Orleans adopted a new name, a new mascot, and new team colors.
"We are building a new culture," said Valley, who has also coached lacrosse, basketball, and wrestling at different times during his career. "We are not maintaining anything. The logistics of getting everyone on board was a ton of work just to get the season started."
Valley's program has participated in multiple community service projects, mainly based on the needs of the community. Valley organized a 5K for a family in need after their father died and a coin drive and raised $6k for a local family whose house burned down. He has personally run a fundraiser for the last 16 years that raises money for scholarships and community members in need. He has also run a golf tournament for 19 years to financially support the football program.
Rochester Region Coach of the Week
Notre Dame Batavia/Byron-Bergen head coach Michael Bauer was named the Rochester region Coach of the Week for the week ending Sunday, November 8, after leading the sixth seed to a 28-21 win over second-seeded Attica in the Section V Class D semifinal. With the victory, Notre Dame Batavia/Byron-Bergen will face Attica in the sectional title game at St. John Fisher University on Friday.
Senior running back Chase Antinore paced the offensive attack with 140 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. Sophomore quarterback Drew Beachel completed 6 of 9 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown, while senior Cody Carlson caught two passes for 33 yards and a score. Antinore sealed the game defensively with an interception with two minutes remaining.
"This team, I love these guys," said Bauer, who has led the Irish to a 7-3 record. "My coaching philosophy is a united football program, a coaching philosophy that is big on character development, accountability, and building strong personal relationships. I emphasize that football is about much more than wins and losses."
Bauer is in his first season as head coach at NDBB after coaching at Bishop Timon, St. Jude, and St. Joe's.
The Notre Dame/Byron-Bergen program will be running youth camps this summer and cleaning a local park in Bergen.
2026 COTW Winners
Week 1: Mark Benton (Springville-Griffith Institute), Mike Humphrey (Le Roy/Cal-Mum)
Week 2: Nate Armella (Randolph), Dennis Pynn (Churchville-Chili)
Week 3: Jay Baumann (Starpoint), Ryan Kramer (Geneseo-Mt. Morris)
Week 4: Michael Cieslik (Orchard Park), Steve Marriott (Pittsford)
Week 5: Joe Licata (Williamsville South), Rich Lipani (Hilton)
Week 6: Paul Palizay (Williamsville North), Dave Marean (Wayne Central)
Week 7: Chad Bartoszek (Salamanca), Ismail Mehr (Hornell)
Week 8: Curt Fischer (Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove), Tyler Winter (Oakfield-Alabama/Elba)
Week 9: Ty Harper (Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton), Jeff Welch (Canandaigua Academy)
Week 10: Eric Valley (Orleans Rivals), Michael Bauer (Notre Dame Batavia/Byron-Bergen)
