Hampton looking for ‘refreshed energy’ in 2026
Tagged under: District 7, News, Team Previews
Greg Hillman | August 22, 2026
ALLISON PARK, PA– One game…
That was the difference between a postseason berth and a locker cleanout. It’s something that has been lingering in the back of the team’s mind for the better part of ten months. The fact that it took place in early September goes to show how important each game is in a high school football season.
Last year’s 22-13 loss to Chartiers Valley ended up being the deciding factor in the WPIAL’s selection committee’s decision of who should get the final wild card berth in class 4A playoffs. A game of miscues and missed opportunities cost Hampton the game and the playoffs.
“Missed opportunities cost us a special room,” head coach Steve Sciullo said last October. “We had a few missed opportunities in the Armstrong game. And a few missed opportunities in the [Chartiers Valley] game. 7-3 looks a lot better than 5-5 and probably helps us in the wild card.”
A 7-3 record would’ve put Hampton over both Aliquippa and Chartiers Valley, which would’ve been more than enough to qualify for the postseason.
But Sciullo is determined not to let the past dwell too much. After all, it is a new year. Which means new opportunities. A chance at redemption.
“Here’s the cool thing about it,” Sciullo explained. “Our non-conference schedule for 4A is Mars, Ringgold, and Central Valley. These are guys we competed against for playoff spots. That’s what it’s there for. I think [the WPIAL] made a good decision to do some of these things so they’re not just making a decision based on whatever and feels. We’re going to play these teams, and it’s going to be good.”
The Greater Allegheny Conference has lightened up this year. Downsizing from six members to five members in 2026, the Talbots find themselves in a slightly more favorable position to make the playoffs. With McKeesport expected to be overwhelming favorites to win the division, Hampton has a wide-open window to secure the second spot in the section, which would guarantee them a spot in the playoffs. Hampton hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2022, when they were ousted by Montour in the first round.
Of all the teams in their division, Hampton defeated two of them: Shaler and Indiana. Kiski went 3-3 in section play and 4-6 overall, which was good enough to squeeze them into a much bigger 5A class playoff. But it begs the question: Would two section wins be enough to clinch a playoff spot? A lot would have to go right for the Talbots if that were to happen.
Not to mention, their out-of-section play adds three more playoff teams from a year ago. Armstrong, Mars, and Central Valley (who made the WPIAL semifinal in class 3A last year).
But even with a younger team this season, Hampton is looking to learn from years past, when the postseason was in reach, and it slipped through the cracks of a team desperate for playoff ball.
“The simple thing is just execution,” Sciullo said. “That’s the main thing we look for out of our kids: can you execute the assignment that you’re given, right? That’s number one above all. We need effort and energy. Effort, energy, and execution- those three things I look for rather than schematics. I’ve got to put down on paper what these guys can do in theory. Not what I know. The only thing they can do is what I teach them. So, if I can’t teach them what I know, then it doesn’t matter what they know…I’ve got to teach it to them, because it only matters what they know. They’re on the field playing; I’m just giving them help”
Execution was an issue last year. Unfortunately, the biggest miscues came against Chartiers Valley when Julius Best ran back an interception 67 yards for a pick-six and when the Talbots took a safety early in the game, gifting the Colts nine points in total.
But the Chartiers Valley game wasn’t the only game in which the Talbots had victory in sight and came up short. Earlier in the season, Hampton blew a 20-7 lead in a back-and-forth game against Armstrong. In the final fifteen minutes of the game, the River Hawks outscored the Talbots 28-8 to secure a 35-28 win in Kittanning. Something the coaching staff wants cleaned up.
“On defense, it’s always been the same thing,” said junior Parker Valentine. Eleven guys rallying to the ball, trying to make tackles, playing as a team. Communicating is a big thing. As a middle linebacker, just communicating across the defense goes a long way. Basically, just communicating. Getting the ball to some playmakers, and that will set us up to be successful.”
Moving forward…
As mentioned, Hampton will have a young team this season. A majority of the team is going to be sophomores and juniors who didn’t have a ton of varsity experience a season ago. The team is aware of this. And back to Scuillo’s point of execution, this is where issues could arise. With a young team, growing pains are to be expected. But it’s also a chance for the veterans to step up and lead.
“Just knowing what to do, said senior Joey Stephenson. “Just make sure we’re all on the same page. Just being a leader, being a vocal guy”
“As a person, I’ve always tried to be a leader,” Valentine said. “I think just vocalizing and communicating with the team. Understanding your teammates is a big deal because some people you have to [lead differently]. Some people you have to be more vocal; some people you have to show them. Some guys you have to get on; some guys you can’t. So, it’s just understanding your teammates, being there for them, and also getting on them when you have to; pushing each other to be better is huge.”
Stephenson and Valentine will lead the defense this year in hopes of continuing to be a strong suit for the Talbots. The defense will need to create turnovers as often as they can. It’s something they specialized in last season when the team needed them the most.
“We worked a lot on turnovers. Especially fumbles and stuff. I feel like our linebackers are very good at punching the ball out. Just one of those splash plays can change a season.”
As if Hampton was on the wrong side of a season-changing defensive splash play last season…
“We do a big turnover circuit, Valentine added. “Interceptions, forcing fumbles. Get on the ground when you see a ball… We get the ball, we force turnovers; that changes games, so we need that.”
On the flip side… Hampton will get their quarterback back after going through a rotation of them in 2025. Andrew Reschoff, who is coming off an ankle injury and a broken collarbone, is ready to take big strides in his junior campaign. When asked about what’s changed from this year to last year, this was his answer.
“I think really putting on the extra weight and putting a lot of muscle on,” he said. “It really helps you stay in the pocket more. I think I got to do a better job at staying in there. Making passes, taking the hits, instead of getting out of there right away.”
His coach seems pretty pleased with progression as well.
“I’m happy for the kid,” Sciullo explained. “He’s healthy, and he looks great.”
The Talbots will need to stay healthy this season, especially at the quarterback position. But all the veterans will need to stay on the field as well. Last season the Talbots had depth. When one guy went down, another one took his place. When Reschoff was injured, the Talbots looked to Willy Haselrig, Jack Halli, and even Evan McAneny out of the wildcat to fill in at the game’s most important position. But with all three of those players gone, the Talbots will hope that Reschoff can have an injury-free season.
“I’m really looking forward to just stay healthy all season, said Reschoff. “I’ve been praying and really just working hard. I’ve put on about forty pounds. I’ve been in the gym a lot. I’ve just been excited cause last year was cut short.”
Speaking of losing seniors… Hampton lost fifteen of them. Most of them starters. Haselrig, Halli, and McAneny were just the tip of the iceberg. The Talbots understand what could come with a young core. But they are also excited about the opportunities that fresh faces can bring. A chance to see what the young guys can do. And perhaps finding a diamond in the rough, or two.
“When you have new faces, you get a refreshed energy,” Sciullo said. “A lot of those kids played a lot for us over three years. You saw their face every day, and it became normal. New faces, new places is really exciting.”
Even with half of the teams who qualified for the WPIAL playoffs a season ago on their schedule, Hampton is eager to put past demons behind them. Some of those teams have question marks of their own as well. Mars lost a bunch of seniors, and they have a new head coach. Franklin Regional, Indiana, Deer Lakes, and Ringgold finished at or near the bottom of their respective sections last year. Even Kiski, who technically qualified last year, finished as the ninth seed in 5A before getting routed by Shaler 28-8 in the quarterfinal.
Not to mention, six home games are on the schedule this year. This is to even out from the previous two seasons when Hampton had six home games in 2024 and 4 home games in 2025. Any team would love to have an extra home game. It’s something the Talbots need to use to their advantage.
“It can’t hurt,” Sciullo said. “I like that we have the game first with Deer Lakes here… I just want to see the stands full with people from both sides of the community. It’s going to be mayhem on ‘Middle’; I’m so pumped for it.”
Photo Courtesy of: Hampton Football/X
The window is open for Hampton this season. Execution, injuries, and attention to detail will all be a part of 2026. But Sciullo –now in his 4th season as head coach—wants his players to get the most out of their high school experience, which will lead them to big things on and off the field.
“Football is hard, life is harder,” he explained. “I just want them to respect people and genuinely mean it. A lot of people have lost that in this world. But if you can show respect to people and actually mean it, you’re going to be ok in life… I want them to learn life through this. Life lessons are a big thing for me. Football really taught me how to live in society.”
Life skills over football skills…
“It’s just simple things that you overlook when you’re trying to reach your life goal,” Sciullo continued. “Sometimes you get into the meeting room in the pros, and you think you’ve arrived. I thought that, and I didn’t. You just got a chance when you get there. It’s how you work and how you stick with it, and how you continue to work every single day.”
