Heated Rivalry No More: Hampton Bays and Southampton Football Programs Merge

In a move that became official at a Section XI meeting a few weeks back, the high school football programs at Hampton Bays and Southampton will merge in 2026 to become one. Hampton Bays, which has recently seen a strong resurgence of the sport after taking two years off to rebuild, will be the host school, welcoming Southampton students who would like to play. Despite the two schools legendary rivalry for the Mayor’s Cup, a tradition on the South Fork going back 40 years, this new combined team program is a sign of the times and represents an effort to save football for both communities. This week, the editors are joined by news reporter (and former sports editor) Cailin Riley and Hampton Bays Athletic Director John Foster to talk about the rivalry, the plan and the love for the tradition of high school football in challenging times.