Springville-Griffith Institute looks for turnaround under Mark Benton

Overview

• Mark Benton begins his first season as Springville-Griffith Institute's head varsity coach and his 27th year coaching high school football in Western New York.
• Benton said Springville has a quick, athletic 24-player roster and should show improvement after an 0-8 season in 2025.
• Seniors Grant Michalski, Liam Fisher and Lane Wierzba are expected to lead the team, with Michalski named as a breakout candidate.
• Wierzba brings proven defensive production on the line after recording 63 total tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack and two fumble recoveries as a junior in 2025.
• The schedule opens Sept. 4 at Salamanca and continues Sept. 11 at home against JFK before home games against Akron, Cleveland Hill and Tonawanda later in the season.

Springville-Griffith Institute 2026 Football Preview

Mark Benton takes over at Springville-Griffith Institute looking for a turnaround season.

Benton enters his first year as Springville-Griffith Institute's head varsity coach and his 27th year coaching high school football in Western New York. His background includes head-coaching stops at Dunkirk, Gowanda, JFK and Cattaraugus-Little Valley, along with time as an assistant varsity coach at Dunkirk, a Big 30 all-star scout and a radio color commentator.

The task at Springville starts with growth. The 2025 team finished 0-8, and Benton said the 2026 group should show improvement.

"We only have 24 on the roster but are quick and athletic," Benton said.

That quickness and speed are the traits Benton sees as the team's biggest strength. The area that needs to develop is game experience, which makes the early weeks important for a roster that will be asked to learn quickly under a new head coach.

Leaders And Core Players

Benton pointed to seniors Grant Michalski, Liam Fisher and Lane Wierzba as the players who will lead Springville.

Michalski, a Class of 2027 RB/DB, is the player Benton named as a possible breakout candidate. Fisher, a Class of 2027 QB/LB, is part of the quarterback picture and is also the special-teams player Benton identified as someone who could make a difference.

Benton named Fisher, Wyatt Morris and Michalski in outlining Springville's quarterback options. Morris is a Class of 2029 QB/DB.

Up front, Benton identified Wierzba and Connor Fite as the players who will lead both sides of the line. Wierzba, a Class of 2027 OL/DL, gives Springville a proven defensive piece after posting 63 total tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack and two fumble recoveries as a junior in 2025.

Fite is a Class of 2028 OL/DL. David Janora, a Class of 2027 RB/LB, is another player Benton named as a new contributor for readers to know.

Identity

Springville's offensive approach will be built around finding and attacking weak points in opposing defenses. Benton said the offense will look to "find weaknesses in opponent's defense and exploit it."

Defensively, the goal is direct: stop the run and defend the pass. That puts Wierzba, Fite and the rest of the front in an important spot, while the defensive backs and linebackers will have to grow with the game experience Benton wants this roster to gain.

The season goal is just as clear. Benton wants Springville to be much improved over last year.

Schedule Landmarks

Springville opens the 2026 schedule on Sept. 4 at Salamanca at Veterans Park. The home opener follows Sept. 11 against JFK at Springville-Griffith Institute's stadium.

Akron visits Springville on Sept. 18 at 7 p.m.; then Springville goes on the road Sept. 25 at Barker/Roy-Hart and Oct. 2 at Eden/North Collins. Both road games are listed for 7 p.m.

The regular-season home stretch includes Cleveland Hill on Oct. 9 and Tonawanda on Oct. 15, both at 7 p.m. Springville closes the listed regular-season schedule Oct. 22 at Alden at 7 p.m.

For Benton and Springville, the season is about building a new base. With Michalski, Fisher and Wierzba leading the way, and with a schedule that gives the team four September tests before October arrives, the program gets its first look at how quickly a young roster can turn speed and athleticism into progress.