Curt Fischer and Tyler Winter earned the Buffalo Bills’ Week 8 high school football coaching honors after leading their teams to victories in the final week of the regular season.
The Bills announced the selections Oct. 28 in partnership with Visa. Fischer, head coach of Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove, received the Buffalo region award, while Oakfield-Alabama/Elba’s Winter received the Rochester region honor. Each coach’s program will receive $1,000 from the Bills and Visa.
Fischer’s milestone victory clinches league title
According to the Bills’ announcement, Fischer led the Herd to a 43-6 victory over Southwestern for the week ending Oct. 25. The result lifted the team to 6-2 and secured its first league championship since 2007.
The Bills said the victory was Fischer’s 249th career win, breaking the Section VI head coaching record previously held by Grand Island’s Gene Masters.
“That was a huge thing for us,” Fischer said in the announcement. “I don’t think anyone expected us to be where we are at this year. These kids played every game with a chip on their shoulder. They pulled out a lot of close games this year.”
Junior Brody Hawkins rushed for 121 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries against Southwestern. Senior Dylan Newman added 116 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries, helping the Herd finish with 323 rushing yards.
Fischer became Falconer’s head coach in 2023. A 1981 Falconer graduate and former all-league quarterback, he played for Bill Race, who later brought him onto the school’s coaching staff in 1987. Fischer also worked at Cummins Engine for 37 years after high school.
The announcement listed Fischer’s career record at 249-72 across 27 years at Maple Grove, one season at Chautauqua Lake and four years at Falconer. His teams won state championships in 1998 and 2008.
Winter recognized after Aggies beat Avon
Winter’s Oakfield-Alabama/Elba team defeated Avon 34-6 to finish the regular season at 6-2.
“With how wide open Class D currently is, we have preached the importance of ending the regular season on a high note and building momentum for sectionals,” Winter said in the Bills’ announcement.
Sophomore running back and defensive back Alex Ohlson rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries and intercepted two passes. Senior wide receiver and linebacker Brady Werth scored a receiving touchdown and a rushing touchdown, adding five tackles, including a sack.
At the time of the announcement, Winter was in his seventh year as the Aggies’ head coach after two seasons as an assistant. He previously coached at York/Pavilion for two years. The Bills listed his Oakfield-Alabama/Elba record at 39-22.
A two-time Section V coach of the year, Winter led the Aggies to consecutive Section V Class D championships in 2021 and 2022 and a Far West Regional championship in 2021.
Winter said he uses football to help prepare players for life after high school and hopes their relationships with coaches become lifelong bonds.
The Bills also highlighted the Aggies’ service through youth camps, youth coaching and community events, including Labor Daze and Homecoming. The team had received the RCCFO Sportsmanship Team Award in three of the previous five seasons.
The weekly program recognizes coaching success on the field and service to the community. Each region’s Coach of the Year will receive an additional $1,000 and be recognized at Highmark Stadium before the Bills’ January game against the Jets, according to the official announcement.
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