THE APEX TIMES
The Buffalo Bills, in partnership with Visa, selected Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton’s Ty Harper and Canandaigua Academy’s Jeff Welch for the Week 9 2026 honor, including a $1,000 award for each program.
The Buffalo Bills announced two winners for its 2026 High School Tackle Football Coaches of the Week program, with Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton head coach Ty Harper named the Buffalo Region Coach of the Week and Canandaigua Academy head coach Jeff Welch named the Rochester Region Coach of the Week.
Harper received the Buffalo-region honor for the week ending Sunday, Nov. 1, after leading the Eagles to a 40-6 win over Springville-Griffith Institute in a Section VI Class C quarterfinal. The victory improved his team’s record to 6-3, setting up an upcoming sectional semifinal against Falconer/Cassadaga/Maple Grove after a 14-8 regular-season loss to that opponent.
The Bills’ release also highlighted contributions from Harper’s offense in the quarterfinal, including a 170-yard, two-touchdown rushing performance by junior running back Tristen Gibbs and two touchdown passes thrown by sophomore quarterback Josh Swan.
Welch earned the Rochester-region honor for the week ending Nov. 1 after guiding Canandaigua Academy to a 34-0 shutout of Vertus in a Section V Class A2 semifinal. With the win, Canandaigua Academy improved to 8-1 and moved to a section championship game against Greece Athena.
Canandaigua’s offensive output in the semifinal included 118 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries by junior running back Aleksander Hawryschuk, while sophomore quarterback Brady Davern stepped in for injured Austin Kierst and completed 6 of 13 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown.
As part of the program, each winning coach’s school receives $1,000 from the Bills and Visa. The release also said each region’s Coach of the Year will receive an additional $1,000 and be recognized on the field at Highmark Stadium before a Bills home game in January.