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 Ty Harper (Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton) and Rochester Coach of the Week Jeff Welch (Canandaigua Academy).
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
Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton head coach Ty Harper was named Buffalo region Coach of the Week for the week ending Sunday, November 1, after leading the Eagles to a 40-6 win over Springville-Griffith Institute in the Section VI Class C quarterfinals. The win improved Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton record to 6-3. The Eagles will look to avenge a 14-8 regular season loss to Falconer/Cassadaga/Maple Grove in Friday's sectional semifinal.
In last week's quarterfinal win over Springville-Griffith Institute, junior running back Tristen Gibbs rushed 16 times for 170 yards and two scores. Sophomore quarterback Josh Swan added two touchdown passes.
"I love watching young people learn lessons through football that can be applied to the rest of their lives," said Harper. "I believe that football is so valuable in today's society because it demands mental toughness, it teaches kids how to be accountable and overcome adversity, and illustrates the importance of sacrifice for others."
One of the most successful coaches in Section VI football history, Harper has been the varsity head coach at CL/W/B for the past two seasons. Before CL/W/B, he was the varsity head coach at Clymer/Sherman/Panama from 2015-24 and Clymer/Sharman in 2014. Harper led CL/W/B to state semifinals in 2025. He notched a 78-24 record at CSP, including state titles in 2018, 2019, and 2024 and Section VI titles in 1018, 2019, 2023, and 2024.
Harper played high school football at Fredonia and was an honorable mention All-WNY selection as a guard and linebacker before graduating in 2004. He then went on to play four seasons at defensive end for head coach Paul Vosburgh at St. John Fisher. He was a starter on the Cardinals 2006 national semifinalist.
Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton holds a youth football camp every summer, and its players coach the younger athletes (Grades 3-8) from the communities that comprise our program. It was a NYS Scholar Athlete Team in 2025.
Rochester Region Coach of the Week
Canandaigua Academy head coach Jeff Welch was named the Rochester region Coach of the Week for the week ending Sunday, November 1, after leading the cherry & gray to a 34-0 victory over Vertus in the Section V Class A2 semifinals. With the win, CA improved to 8-1 on the season ahead of Friday's section championship game against Greece Athena.
Junior running back Aleksander Hawryschuk paced Canandaigua's ground attack with 118 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. Sophomore quarterback Brady Davern, starting in place of injured Austin Kierst, completed 6 of 13 passes for 140 yards and a score. Davern's dad, Jim, was the co-New York State offensive player of the year with his twin, Jon, as members of Canandaigua's 1999 Class A New York State undefeated title team coached by New York State coaching legend Mike Foster. That Braves roster included current Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles.
"The Canandaigua community has tremendous pride in its football program," said Welch. "Coach Foster produced some of the best teams ever in the Rochester area and in New York State, and it's an honor to carry on the tradition so many have created. This year's group all grew up together, and they're a pleasure to coach."
Now in his 16th season coaching for the long-time Section V public school power, Welch has compiled a 109-43 record. He was the Section V Class A2 Coach of the Year in 2022 and led the program to the New Yor State Class A semifinals in 2019. CA captured four consecutive Section V titles from 2019-22.
A physical education instructor in the Canandaigua district, Welch played football and lacrosse at Ithaca College, where he played for his dad, Mike, who compiled a 169-78 record for the Bombers.
Last year, for the fifth time in six seasons, the football program received the Rochester Chapter Officials Award in Class A2 for sportsmanship. The team volunteers at many community events, including the VA Hospital and Frank Baker youth football, the long-time in-house program that currently features 250 athletes playing flag and tackle football from kindergarten through sixth grade.
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)
