Buffalo Bills recognize these WNY high school football coaches | Week 8 2026

Oct 28, 2026 at 10:30 AM

The Buffalo Bills, in partnership with Visa, announced the 2026 Week Eight High School Tackle Football Coaches of the Week.

This week's recipients are Buffalo Region Coach of the Week Curt Fischer (Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove) and Rochester Coach of the Week Tyler Winter (Oakfield-Alabama/Elba).

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

Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove head coach Curt Fischer was named Buffalo region Coach of the Week for the week ending Sunday, October 25, after leading the Herd to a 43-6 win over Southwestern in the season's final regular-season game. The win improved Falconer's record to 6-2 and clinched the first league title since 2007.

The victory marked Fischer's 249th career win and broke the Section VI record for victories by a head coach. Grand Island's Gene Masters previously held the record.

"That was a huge thing for us," said Fischer, who was named Falconer's head coach in 2023. "I don't think anyone expected us to be where we are at this year. These kids played every game with a chip on their shoulder. They pulled out a lot of close games this year."

Junior Brody Hawkins led the offense with 14 carries for 121 yards and three touchdowns, while senior Dylan Newman added 19 carries for 116 yards and two scores. Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove rushed for 323 yards as a team. Fischer was an all-league QB for Falconer, graduated in 1981, and played under head coach Bill Race.

After high school, Fischer worked at Cummins Engine for the next 37 years. Race hired him to join the Falconer coaching staff in 1987. In his 27 years at Maple Grove, a season at Chautauqua Lake and four years at Falconer, he's compiled a 249-72 career record, and his teams captured state championships in 1998 and 2008.

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Rochester Region Coach of the Week

Oakfield-Alabama/Elba head coach Tyler Winter was named the Rochester region Coach of the Week for the week ending Sunday, October 25, after leading the Aggies to a 34-6 victory over Avon. With the victory, O-A/Elba improved to 6-2.

"With how wide open Class D currently is, we have preached the importance of ending the regular season on a high note and building momentum for sectionals," said Winter. Sophomore running back/defensive back Alex Ohlson rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. He also added two interceptions. Senior wide receiver/linebacker Brady Werth notched a receiving and rushing touchdown and recorded five tackles, including a sack.

Winter has been the head coach at OAE for seven years after serving two years as an assistant. Before OAE, he coached at York/Pavilion for two years. His overall record at OAE is 39-22, and he led the Aggies to back-to-back Section V Class D titles in 2021 and 2022. A two-time Section V coach of the year, he guided OAE to a Far West Regional Championship in 2021.

"I use holistic education through coaching football to help our players be as prepared for life after high school as possible," said Winter. "I look to those relationships with our players to be lifelong bonds full of great memories that our coaches and players get to hold and cherish years down the road."

Oakfield-Alabama/Elba volunteers through youth camps and youth organization coaching/instruction. They also volunteer at numerous community-based events, such as Labor Daze and Homecoming. The Aggies have won the RCCFO Sportsmanship Team Award in three of the last five seasons.