Bills’ Coaches of the Week: Orleans Rivals’ Eric Valley and Notre Dame Batavia/Byron-Bergen’s Michael Bauer honored for Week 10

The Buffalo Bills, partnered with Visa, named Orleans Rivals head coach Eric Valley and Notre Dame Batavia/Byron-Bergen head coach Michael Bauer as the 2026 Week Ten High School Tackle Football Coaches of the Week.

Valley was selected as Buffalo Region Coach of the Week for the week ending November 8 after leading the Rivals to a 21-6 win over Pioneer in the Section VI Class B semifinals. The victory moved Orleans to a 9-1 record and set up a sectional title game Friday against West Seneca East at the University at Buffalo.

The Bills’ release credited senior quarterback Preston Woodworth and running backs Noah Harrison and Elijah Doxey for fueling the win. Harrison had seven carries for 58 yards and two touchdowns, and Doxey added 71 yards on 12 attempts plus five receptions for 46 yards.

In addition to the on-field success, the Bills highlighted Valley’s long-running involvement in community fundraising and service, including organizing a 5K after a family need was identified, coordinating a coin drive that raised $6,000, and running football-supported scholarship and support events for years.

Bauer earned Rochester Region Coach of the Week after Notre Dame Batavia/Byron-Bergen, seeded sixth, topped Attica 28-21 in the Section V Class D semifinals for the week ending November 8. The win advanced the Irish to the sectional title game Friday at St. John Fisher University.

The release described Chase Antinore as the offensive lead in that semifinal, with 140 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. It also credited sophomore quarterback Drew Beachel with 6-of-9 passing for 108 yards and a touchdown, and noted that Antinore sealed the game defensively with an interception with two minutes remaining.

Bauer, entering his first season as head coach at NDBB, was noted for a team-building approach centered on character development and accountability, and the release also pointed to planned youth camps and a community park cleanup as part of the program’s off-season activities.