High school football is back for another season in Western New York and the Buffalo Bills and Legends Global Merchandising are happy to partner to recognize the top coaches in the region through the 2024 High School Football Coach of the Week program.
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 next 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 #1
Canandaigua Academy's head coach Jeff Welch has been named Coach of the Week for the Rochester region after Canandaigua beat West Genesee in the New York State Kickoff Classic 21-13.
Canandaigua led from start to finish, scoring twice in the first quarter to lead 15-0.
Sam Clark opened scoring when he returned a punt 79-yards for a touchdown. The second touchdown was scored when TE Nate Brinza caught a 15-yard touchdown pass.
West Genesee scored a touchdown in the third quarter, bringing the score to 15-7, but Canandaigua responded when Jack Clark scored on a one-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 21-13.
QB Drew Williamee completed nine-of-seventeen passes for 112 and a passing touchdown. Mason DePew recorded 11 tackles, including a sack and 2 tackles for loss.
Welch is in his 14th season as head coach, winning four sectional titles during his tenure, most recently in 2022. He has also coached wrestling and lacrosse at Canandaigua.
Welch has a mantra of being "All in." He has focused on doing things as a team and together. He is dedicated to creating a strong culture focused on the "we" before the "me" and sets the culture during the off-season through his strength and conditioning program.
Off the field, the Canandaigua football team participates in community service at the local VA hospital.
Buffalo Region Coach of the Week #1
Niagara Falls High School head coach Don Bass has been named Coach of the Week for the Buffalo region after his Wolverines defeated West Seneca West 18-13 in a comeback win in their season-opener. It was the Wolverines' first season-opening win in at least four years.
"I think it's great for the kid's morale," Bass said. "It was a great way to start."
Niagara Falls trailed 13-0 at the half to West Seneca West, but they turned it around in the second half beginning with a return from senior Kenauri Armstrong who ran 80-yards for the touchdown. Armstrong continued his strong performance when he took a swing pass from QB Michael Taylor and ran it for a 26-yard touchdown, cutting the lead to 13-12.
With four minutes remaining in the game, Taylor threw the game-winning 36-yard touchdown pass to Catino Woods.
"This team didn't hang their heads at the half," Bass said.
Bass has been the head coach for Niagara Falls High School since 2008. Prior to becoming head coach, he was the JV head coach from 2002-2007 and the offensive coordinator from 1999-2001.
Bass has two mantras that he uses to create a culture with his team which are "Play fast, physical and finish" and "energy, effort and execution."
Bass loves coaching because it helps the students, "become positive, productive young men in society. That's what I have a chance to do here."
Off the field, the Wolverines football team is active in their community, volunteering their time to work with several local organizations like the Boys & Girls Club, reading to elementary school students and helping organize Senior Citizens Prom.
