Hampton defeats Franklin Regional 17-10; Future uncertain.

Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, News

Greg Hillman | October 31, 2026

ALLISON PARK, PA– They need that win. Not only to salvage their season, but to give the committee something to consider going into their decision.

However, it didn’t look like it was going to be a happy clubhouse for most of the night. Both teams started the night with interceptions. Neither team came away with points. But it was a Hampton error that led to the first points of the night.

After a great punt by Luca Aguilera that backed Hampton back to their own 5-yard line. Joey Stephanson took a snap that bounced off his head and landed in the end zone right in front of Tommy Verruggio to fall on and score the touchdown.

“We didn’t play very well in the first [half],” said Hampton head coach Steve Scuillo. “We gave them basically a touchdown. There were a few things that we need to work on. Obviously, we didn’t have any of our running backs tonight. So, we did some patchwork. Put together a little bit of an offense. And that’s what it looked like in the first half. In the second half, we got some different people involved in the running back position and moved the ball a little bit.” We saw that we could run the ball on [Franklin Regional] based on the film we had. Just unfortunate that this week our running backs were hurt. We did a good job of finding something that we could get going. Then we got it rolling and got the win.”

So much to unpack in that quote there.

Yes, Hampton had 0 running backs this game. As I said before, Joey Stephenson took a snap from the wildcat and fumbled it, which caused a Panther touchdown. That’s how desperate the situation was. He would joke about it with me postgame. Let’s just say he’d prefer not to do that again. Not to mention, if you take that play away, the final score is 17-3.

Parker Valentine took some snaps at running back as well. Which is something he has done before but not regularly. Heath Borgo would eventually take the duties of acting RB1, which worked for a bit until Franklin Regional caught on.

Andrew Reschoff had some nice runs as well. He found some holes in the defense and took what was given to him on the ground. This included a nice pick of 9 yards later in the game that extended a drive, which resulted in a Jake Lucas field goal.

But before that, with 5:11 to go in the third quarter, Hampton would find the end zone for the only offensive score of the night to tie the game at 7. Landon Long got behind the defense, and Reschoff would find him for the wide-open touchdown. You know which one I’m talking about. Good route and good throw by both players.

But it was the defense that would decide tonight’s game. Fitting, perhaps, since the defense has kept Hampton in so many games this season. And tonight was no different. They only gave up 3 points. All be it against a not-so-good Franklin Regional team, with all due respect. They got rewarded with a score of their own when it mattered the most.

Lewis Bacasa would be the difference-maker tonight. Also fitting since it was senior night and he is a senior. Bacasa would grab the first interception for Hampton back in the second quarter on what looked like a miscommunication between the quarterback and wide receiver. With 5:11 to go in the game, Bacasa made the biggest play in his final game. Jumping the route and taking it 20 yards for the game-winning interception.

“I think it all comes down to our coaching staff and my teammates,” he would tell me afterward. “Coach [Interthal] told me exactly where to go on that first interception. On the other one, he told me to go to the other side of the field. So, I think he was a big part of it. My teammates, too, making all the right plays.”

Good for him. He and this defense (and team) deserved it. What a way to end it.

Now, what next?

Well, that’s TBD.

The selection committee has a tough decision to make. Do they favor head-to-head wins or overall record more? If they favor head-to-head more, then Kiski gets in for defeating Hampton and Ringgold. If they favor record, then Kiski is out, and it will come down to Hampton and Ringgold. And then head-to-head comes into play, with Hampton beating Ringgold earlier this season.

Now, something to consider. Ringgold had a controversial loss to Chartiers Valley last week. Would the committee still take Ringgold and not hold that loss against them? It’s hard to say.

I asked everyone what message they had for the committee to plead for Hampton to enter the tournament, and they all said basically the same thing… “Look at the record”.

“I don’t even think we have to pitch,” Sciullo said about the selection. “We have four conference games and six non-conference games. The conference games have to mean something, or why are we playing them. So, hopefully those things mean something, and our win over Ringgold- we’re both 5-5 will put us through. Now Kiski is 3-7, and they played six non-conference games too. But if those don’t matter, then what are we doing. So, hopefully those games matter and they take into consideration that we won two more and beat Ringgold.”

The selection show is scheduled for Saturday, October 31^st at 1:00 pm. They’ll learn their fate then.

Thanks for checking out my coverage and following along all season long!