The Buffalo Bills and Legends Global Merchandise are happy to partner to name Joe Montesano and Tom Langworthy as the coaches of the week for the Rochester and Buffalo regions for week 10 of the high school football season.
Aimed at highlighting varsity head tackle football coaches' efforts on and off the field, coaches from both the Buffalo and Rochester regions will be honored over the course of 11 weeks and will receive $1,000 for their teams. Each region's Coach of the Year will be named during the Week 17 game against the New York Jets and will receive an additional $1,000 for their programs.
Rochester Region Coach of the Week
Rush-Henrietta coach Joe Montesano was named the Rochester Region Coach of the Week after he led the Royal Comets to a 13-7 over University Prep in the Section V Class AA semifinals. Rush-Henrietta is now 4-6 after entering the playoffs as the 8th-seeded team in AA.
The Rush-Henrietta defense played well in the win over University Prep. They held University Prep to a single score and also had a goal-line stand, stopping a drive on the one-yard line.
"Our defense was exceptional," Montesano said. "To hold U-Prep to seven points is a major accomplishment."
Rush-Henrietta scored right before halftime to take the lead. Sophomore QB Brendan Mangone tossed a 31-yard touchdown pass to Imani Wagstaff and the Comets had a 7-0 lead with just 0:30 left in the half.
University Prep started the third quarter with the ball and on the first possession of the second half, drove for a touchdown to tie the score at 7-7.
The score held until the fourth quarter when Mangone hit Wagstaff for a 13-yard touchdown pass and a 13-7 lead.
"We won it with defense for the rest of the 4th quarter," Montesano said. "The kids just played with heart and grit."
Sophomore RB Justin Medina ran 18 times for 113 yards in the win. He has now rushed for over 1,000 yards on the season. Mangone completed 7-of-10 passing for 146 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 78 yards. Senior DT Kaleb Condello made 10 tackles, 3 for loss, including 2.0 sacks. LB Ronin Walker recorded a team-high 13 tackles.
Rush-Henrietta will play Aquinas in the Section V championship game this weekend on Friday at 7 pm at SUNY Brockport.
The Royal Comets started the season 1-6 but have now won three straight games.
"Our team has been together the whole time," Montesano said. "We have good senior leadership. Our skill guys are still very young. We've competed in every game this year but just couldn't get over the hump in some of those games."
This is Montesano's second stint coaching for Rush-Henrietta after previously being head coach from 2006-2015. He returned as head coach in 2022.
As head coach, he won Section V championships in 2007, 2010 and 2011. The 2010 team won the New York State AA Championship with a perfect 13-0 record.
As a coach, Montesano goes beyond the X's and O's, bringing together a diverse group of athletes to work together for a common cause of hard work, discipline and a team mindset.
Montesano began his career at Rush-Henrietta at the end of legendary football coach and athletic director Werner Kleeman's amazing run at Rush-Henrietta. Montesano continuously refers to Werner's mantra of E=R, Effort = Results. While this was Werner's motto Coach Montesano focuses on that history and the impact of E=R.
Buffalo Region Coach of the Week
Jamestown coach Tom Langworthy was named the Buffalo Region Coach of the Week after leading the Red & Green to a 28-16 win over Bennett in the first round of the Section VI Class AA playoffs.
"This means a lot to us," Langworthy said. "We felt like we could play with anybody, and this was the game to prove it. We proved it to ourselves."
Earlier this season, Jamestown lost three close games to Bennett (27-23), Orchard Park (41-40) and Lancaster (21-13).
"Those three games were close," Langworthy said. "It proved we could play with anyone."
While Langworthy was encouraged by the losses, he did not hand out any moral victories.
"We needed to win those games in the playoffs," he said. "We knew they would be tough games, but we knew could do it."
Langworthy said that, while he understands the entire WNY football community sees this as a huge upset, he did not consider it an upset at all.
"Our expectations were to go out and win," he said. "We knew it would be tough against an outstanding team like Bennett, but we expected to win. That mindset was really important."
After a scoreless first quarter, the Red & Green took the lead when they were able to fashion a scoring drive in the second quarter. Chase Bonta punched in a two-yard touchdown for a 6-0 lead.
"We got some rhythm going in our run game," Langworthy said. "And we were able to finish the drive."
With just three minutes left in the half, Jamestown pulled out a trick play for another touchdown. Bonta took a pitch and ran wide, but suddenly stopped and tossed a touchdown pass to Jada Foreman for a 13-0 lead.
"Jada was wide open," Langworthy said. "The DBs came up hard to stop the run and Chase threw a perfect pass.
In the third quarter, Bennett had a punt snap that sailed over the punter's head and gave Jamestown the ball on the Bennett 15-yard line. Bonta pounded in a touchdown from three yards out and Jamestown led 20-0. Bennett scored a pair of touchdowns to pull within four on the first play of 4th quarter.
"There was no panic," Langworthy said. "We had to keep playing and the kids kept battling."
Jamestown responded with a 72-yard drive that took more than seven minutes off the clock. QB Dom Gonzalez ran in a five-yard touchdown for a 28-16 lead with just 4:30 left in the game.
The defense held firm and stopped Bennett on downs to clinch the win.
"I'm really happy for this team," Langworthy said. "We lost three close games in a row, but the players continued to come to practice with a great attitude and worked hard."
Langworthy started teaching at Jamestown in February of 2005 and joined the coaching staff before the 2006 season. Langworthy was named the head coach in 2008 and in 17 seasons, he has won four Section VI titles, and a New York State title in 2014.
Principles of the Jamestown Football Program instilled by Coach Langworth include Toughness, Enthusiasm, Discipline, Attitude, Effort, Character, and Competitive Excellence.
Throughout the year, Jamestown Varsity players volunteer as youth football player mentors and coaches at the Jamestown Area Youth Football Camp, Jamestown Area Soap Box Derby, Fletcher Elementary School Fun Fair, and the National Comedy Festival in Jamestown.
Coach Langworthy's favorite football memories include celebrating with players after a big win, spending time with the Red & Green coaching staff, the personal satisfaction of seeing players improve, and having his sons (12 and 10) at practices and games with him.
