No YAIAA team has ever won a District 3 football title in the two highest classifications (AAAA and AAA).
It's never happened. Ever. Not even once.
Delone Catholic has won five Class AA titles in the last nine years and seven since 1989. West York, Bermudian Springs and York Suburban have also brought home AA hardware over the last 25 years. Delone has won a title at the A level as well, as have Hanover and York Catholic. (EDIT: As pointed out in the comments section, Littlestown has also won multiple titles at the AA and A levels).
But since the AAA tournament began in 1982 and the AAAA competition was launched in 1985, none of the subsequent 49 champs came from the YAIAA.
It seems like this is the year the streak has the best chance of coming to an end.
William Penn (AAAA) and West York (AAA) are both in the top four of the playoff standings with two games to play, and both could easily move higher if they finish with victories as expected. Here are the top reasons why one of these two teams will win a district title this year.
1. Margin of victory: The Bearcats and the Bulldogs aren't just consistently winning, they are consistently demolishing opponents. West York has averaged a 48.6-point margin of victory over the last five years. William Penn has won every game it's played by at least 29 points and has scored at least 48 in every game it has played this season. These are dominant squads.
2. Experience: Both of these teams brought back a ton of starters from last year's groups the reached the district quarterfinals. For the Bearcats, quarterback Jordan Davis, wide receiver Mailk Generett and fullback/linebacker Brandon Walker were integral part of the 2007 Division I-title winning team. West York has players like running back Brandon Real, fullback/defensive end Blake Campbell and wide receiver/linebacker Nate Jacobs with pivotal playoff experience. The players that matter have been there before.
3. Home-field advantage: West York hasn't lost at home since the 2006 season and won a playoff game at home last year. William Penn is more comfortable than ever on its home turf and draws big, supportive crowds. Both teams might crack the top two in the playoff standings -- that would guarantee three consecutive home games, which would make the path to the title contest that much easier.
4. Raw talent: The Bearcats have two legitimate Division I prospects in Generett (who is headed to Connecticut) and Walker (who has been offered by Army and has been brought in for a private workout by Vanderbilt) and Davis has looked good enough to be put in that category as well. Brandon Real has been literally unstoppable against every opponent West York has faced, boasting dangerous speed when he turns the corner.
It's enough to make me think that this year has to be the YAIAA's best chance of breaking the streak. Am I on to something here? Am I completely off base? Jump in with your thoughts in the comments section.
You left out Littlestown from the small schools. 2 single A and one double A title and the only state playoff win from the area.
I believe you are right on with the assumption that West York and William Penn might be able to win a Class AAAA and Class AAA title, but more for West York than William Penn. The AAAA class is tougher to win in than the Class AAA.