Steve McDuffie & Steve Donlon earn Payments-ADPRO Sports activities highschool coach of the week honors

The Buffalo Payments and ADPRO Sports activities are proud to as soon as once more companion to acknowledge among the finest coaches that Western New York has to supply via the 2022 Excessive College Soccer Coach of the Week Program.

The Payments and ADPRO Sports activities might be awarding varsity head deal with soccer coaches with the Coach of the Week Award to spotlight not solely their staff’s achievements on the sector but in addition among the work they’re doing off the sector of their communities. We are going to announce winners from the Buffalo and Rochester Areas over the course of 11 weeks, with each area’s Coach of the 12 months being named throughout the Buffalo Payments vs New England Patriots sport in January of 2023 at Highmark Stadium.

Every Coach of the Week winner will obtain a $1,000 grant from the Buffalo Payments and ADPRO Sports activities. The respective Coach of the 12 months winners can even obtain an extra $1,000 for his or her applications. Winners might be chosen by a panel of native highschool soccer specialists.

Bennett head coach Steve McDuffie has been named the week six Buffalo Area Coach of the Week after main his Tigers to a 20-7 win over Lancaster. Bennett entered the sport ranked #2 in WNY whereas Lancaster was ranked #1. Bennett is now 4-2, dropping solely to Pennsylvania powerhouse Erie McDowell and Ohio powerhouse Austin Finch.

“I used to be actually pleased with the children,” McDuffie stated. “We had been working the ball towards a really powerful protection.”

Bennett led 12-0 on the half. Within the second quarter, Bennett’s Jayden Lewis broke free on a 79-yard reverse for a TD, however the play was known as again by holding. On the very subsequent play, Lewis caught a brief move that he took 93 yards for a TD and a 6-0 lead. Bennett scored once more within the 2nd quarter when Antonio Davis capped an 80-yard TD drive with a 1-yard QB sneak for a 12-0 lead. Within the third quarter, Bennett prolonged the result in 20-0 when the Tigers drove 84 yards for a TD. Darnell Hamilton punched in a 2-yard TD to complete the drive.

“I wish to give my youngsters the perfect alternative to play towards the perfect competitors we will discover,” McDuffie stated. “Taking part in this kind of schedule will assist our youngsters down the highway and get them extra alternatives for scholarships.”

Coach McDuffie’s teaching profession began as a volunteer at Grover Cleveland in 1997, then he moved to St. Joe’s as an assistant coach from 1999-2003. In 2010, McDuffie was named Head coach at Bennett and has led the soccer program for 12 seasons now.

Throughout his time as head coach, McDuffie has received 104 video games at Bennett. He has led the Tigers to the Part 6 title sport six instances, successful two championships. McDuffie additionally led his 2021 staff to the NYS championship sport on the Service Dome in Syracuse.

The top coach has a soccer profession of his personal after taking part in highschool soccer at Grover Cleveland after which 4 years on the College at Buffalo. And in 1991, McDuffie was First staff All-Western NY as a senior.

Coach McDuffie, Bennett gamers, and employees contribute to the Archie L. Hunter neighborhood outreach mentoring program with YMCA Buffalo Niagara every year. The group raises funds with an annual monitor meet and an annual fund-raiser on Martin Luther King Day.

The top Coach additionally performed a big half within the resurgence of the Westside little league soccer program.

In ensuring his gamers are secure on the sector and at a smaller danger of head and neck accidents, Coach McDuffie has carried out USA soccer tackling methods into his program.

Canisiteo-Greenwood coach Steve Donlon has been named the week six Rochester Coach of the Week after main his 8-man staff to a 36-6 win over Bolivar-Richburg final week. Each groups entered the sport 5-0 and got here into the sport ranked No. 1 and No. 2 within the rankings for part V 8-man soccer.

“That is the primary 12 months that we have performed 8-man soccer,” Donlon stated. “We’ve got a small senior class so 8-man was the proper factor to do. We are going to return to 11-man soccer subsequent 12 months.”

Within the win over Bolivar-Richburg, C-G scored on their first offensive play of the sport when QB Collin Cox tossed a 60-yard TD move to JJ Reese and a 6-0 lead. Later within the 2nd quarter, C-G added to the lead when Cox hit Paiton Davis with a 6-yard TD move and a 14-0 lead. Boliver pulled inside 14-6 however CG scored with :08 left within the half to increase the result in 22-6. Reese caught a 10-yard TD move from Cox, who accomplished 4 of 6 passes for 85 yards and three TDS, to cap the drive.

“We do not do a variety of passing,” Donlon stated. “I believe we’ve got thrown 12 passes all 12 months. He had an important sport.”

Coach Donlon has been the pinnacle coach at C-G for 3 seasons and served as an assistant from 2000-2007. He spent 12 years as an assistant at Hornell underneath the legendary Gene Mastin and received 3 NYS titles in his time with this system. And earlier than coming to C-G, Donlon was part of a 51-game win streak as an assistant coach at Vornell.

Coach Donlon has taught historical past at Alfred-Almond Excessive College for 20 years.

Exterior of soccer, Coach Donlon is concerned with the native Historical Order of Hibernians which raises cash for worthy native charities. Donlon places an emphasis on being nice on the sector and off, as he is all about serving to his gamers develop into younger adults of nice character.