The Buffalo Bills, in partnership with Visa, announced the 2026 Week Six High School Tackle Football Coaches of the Week. This week's recipients are Buffalo Region Coach of the Week Paul Palizay (Williamsville North) and Rochester Coach of the Week Dave Marean (Wayne Central).
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
Williamsville North head coach Paul Palizay was named Buffalo region Coach of the Week for the week ending Sunday, October 11, after leading the Spartans to a 28-21 win over previously undefeated Orchard Park. With the victory, North improved to 5-1 overall.
"I'm pretty ecstatic about that win," Palizay said. "Orchard Park is tough to beat. We haven't beaten them since 2021. To grind it out and come out with a win at the end was awesome."
Senior quarterback Jacob Tooney led the Spartans with 143 yards passing and three touchdowns, while senior running back Cal Rodgers added two receiving touchdowns. Defensively, sophomore Austin Bell was the star, tallying two interceptions, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
Palizay began his coaching career at Akron High School, his alma mater, for then-coach Ken Stoldt. After three seasons at Akron, he volunteered for two seasons at Williamsville North before joining the modified staff. He eventually joined the varsity staff and was hired as head coach before the 2021 season. He also coaches wrestling and modified baseball at North.
"I choose to coach because I love the game of football, and the opportunities it has given me to meet new people and to develop lifelong relationships with different coaches, families and former athletes along the way," he said.
Palizay owns the Yogi's brick oven pizzeria in Akron where he cooks and works daily. He also works for the town highway department.
The Williamsville North football program has been working with P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Awareness.
Rochester Region Coach of the Week
Wayne head coach Dave Marean was named the Rochester region Coach of the Week for the week ending Sunday, October 11, after leading the Eagles to a highly entertaining 57-46 win over Geneva in a Finger Lakes Class B tilt. With the win, Wayne improved its record to 5-1 on the season.
Senior quarterback Brodie Newmyer sparked the Wayne attack, completing 10 of 12 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns, while senior Cody Crandell carried 27 times for 176 yards and tied a school record with six touchdowns.
Marean played football at Cortland State and played both quarterback and wide receiver for the Red Dragons. He graduated with a degree in Physical Education and earned his master's in physical education, with a concentration in Athletic Administration, from Brockport State. He has been on the football staff at Wayne since the school started the program in 1996. He became head coach before the 2004 season and led the Eagles to the Section 5 title game in 2018 and again in 2021. He is a physical education teacher at Wayne and also coaches the girls varsity flag team at Hilton HS.
"My coaching philosophy is to prepare young athletes to become young men through the great game of football," he said. "I believe in teaching young athletes about life and preparing them to become more productive and meaningful individuals for society through a competitive sport."
Off the field, Wayne Central's program participates in Special Olympics, youth camps, youth league coaching, and annual chicken BBQ dinners.
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)
