A look back: District 3 football history

1982

The District 3 playoffs began with three classifications. Four teams determined by a point system qualified in each classification. Games were played at neutral sites. In 1985, Class AAAA was added.
   Original point system: Points were awarded on the following basis: four for a win and two for a tie. Add three points for each AAA opponent, two for AA opponents, and one for A opponents. Only nine games were counted, and all losses and ties were included.
 

1990

The point system was revised. Teams received eight points for each win against a Class AAAA team, seven points for win against a Class AAA team, six points against

a Class AA team and five points for Class A team. Losses were zero.

Teams used their best nine games (not 10) to calculate the total, and all losses were included.
  

2002

Home sites were awarded to higher seeds for Class AAAA semifinal games. In 2003, the remaining classes received the same.

  

2004

There were several major changes this year.

--- Philadelphia public schools joined the PIAA.

--- Altoona, Holidaysburg and State College joined the District 3-6 Class AAAA playoffs, making it a regional tournament.

--- Class AAAA and AAA tournaments increased to an eight-team field.

--- Class AAAA and AAA winners bypass the state quarterfinal round and head straight to state semifinals.

--- All four District 3 championship games played at Hersheypark Stadium, albeit on different weekends. AA and A played the week before AAA and AAAA.

--- New point system devised for Class AAAA because it was now a regional tournament and needed to follow PIAA procedure. The point system was adopted by all classes.
 
PIAA point system
Class AAAA teams
   100 points for each win against Class AAAA team; 80 points for win against Class AAA team; 60 for Class AA team;
40 for Class A team; 0 points for a loss.
Class AAA
   120 points for each win against Class AAAA team; 100 points for Class AAA win; 80 points for Class AA win; 60 points for Class A win
Class AA
   140 points for each win against Class AAAA team; 120 points for Class AAA win; 100 points for Class AA win; 80 points for Class A win
Class A
   160 points for each win against Class AAAA team; 140 points for Class AAA win; 120 points for Class AA win; 100 points for Class A win

In addition, a team receives strength-of-schedule points. Ten points are awarded every time a defeated team on your schedule records a victory. For instance, if Team A beats Team B, and Team B finishes the season with a 9-1 record then Team A receives 90 strength-of-schedule points. All points are added and then divided by the smallest number of games played by any school in that classification -- usually 10.

2006

The playoff brackets were doubled in every classification.

--- Class AAAA takes 16

--- Class AAA takes 16

--- Class AA takes 8

--- Class A takes 8

2008

The Class AAAA-AAA champions enter the West bracket of state playoffs - a first for AAA (The state needed to correct an imbalance in AAA; 99 AAA schools in East, 46 in West).

Altoona and State College no longer qualify for states through District 3, moving to a six-school sub-region (Central Mountain, Allderdice, McDowell and Dubouis are the others).

2009

The PIAA championships were scheduled for Dec. 18-19, the latest in history. (The 1992 championships were played on Dec. 18-19 after a 22-inch snowfall in Altoona caused the games to be postponed for a week.)

Class AA-A champions enter the PIAA playoffs at quarterfinal level; Class AAAA-AAA enter at PIAA semifinals.

How area teams fared

Bermudian Springs
   Eight

Delone Catholic running back Michael Kale celebrates with the District 3 Class AA championship trophy in 2007 after the Squires shut out top-seeded Trinity, 25-0, at Hersheypark Stadium. (Daily Record/Sunday News - Christopher Glass)

appearances: 2008, 2006, 2004, 1998, 1993-91, 1982 (7-5 overall, 3-1 title games); Titles: 98 AA, 93 AA, 92 AA
 
Biglerville
   One appearance: 2008 (0-1 overall)
 
Central York
   Seven appearances: 2009-07, 2005, 1999, 1990, 1984 (5-7 overall, 0-2 title games)

Dallastown
   Three appearances: 2009-07 (0-3 overall)
 
Delone Catholic
   16 appearances: 2009-07, 2003-1999, 1995-1993, 1990-1986 (21-9 overall, 7-4 title games); Titles: 2007 AA, 2003 AA, 2000 AA, 1999 AA, 1994 A, 1990 AA, 1989 AA
 
Dover
   Four appearances: 1996, 1995, 1987, 1985 (0-4 overall)
 
Eastern York
   One appearance: 1990 (0-1 overall)
 
Fairfield
   One appearance: 2007 (0-1 overall)
 
Gettysburg
   Seven appearances: 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 1994, 1993, 1991 (6-7 overall, 0-3 title games)
 
Hanover
   Seven appearances: 2006, 2001, 1996, 1995, 1988, 1986-85 (4-6 overall, 1-2 title games); Title: 1985 A
 
Kennard-Dale
   Two appearances: 2009-08 (0-2 overall)
 
Littlestown
   17 appearances: 2009, 2007-03, 1999-96, 1989-83 (10-14 overall, 3-3 title games) Titles: 2004 AA, 1989 A, 1984 A
 
New Oxford
   Four appearances: 2009, 2006, 1996, 1995 (3-4 overall, 0-1 title games)

Northern York
   Seven appearances: 2009-04, 2002 (4-7 overall)
 
Red Land
   Three appearances: 2008-06 (5-2 overall)
 
Red Lion
   Five appearances: 2008-06, 1998, 1993 (0-5 overall)
 
South Western
   Nine appearances: 2009, 2006, 2004, 2000, 1997, 1995, 1994, 1990, 1989 (5-8 overall, 0-2 title games)
 
Spring Grove
   Four appearances: 2009, 2002-01, 1983 (1-4 overall)
 
Susquehannock
   Two appearances: 2006-05 (1-2 overall)
 
West York
   11 appearances: 2009-06, 2000, 1998, 1997, 1994, 1992, 1991, 1988 (12-8 overall, 3-1 title games); Titles: 2008 AAA, 1991 AA, 1988 AA
 
William Penn
   Seven appearances: 2009-06, 1988-86 (2-7 overall)
 
York Catholic
   11 appearances: 2009-08, 2000, 1997, 1993, 1992, 1990, 1989, 1987, 1986, 1982 (6-10 overall, 1-3 title games); Title: 1982 A
 
York Suburban
   Five appearances: 2009-08, 2005, 1986, 1982 (3-4 overall, 1-1 title games); Title: 1986 AA
-- Research by Jim Seip