It was a topic of conversation throughout District 9. Whether it was between school administrators and district officials or simply friends shooting the breeze, folks kept wondering if the problems Allegheny Mountain League would ever be solved.
Then one day, out of the blue, it happened.
In a statement released on Oct. 18, District 9 officials and representatives from both the AML and the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference (KSAC) announced that both leagues would be dissolved in order to create the District 9 Football League Association.
“After several years of discussion and observation, the majority of administrators across District 9 voted to establish one league as a step in helping to establish a more equitable playing field among the football-hosting schools and also to aid in the preservation of the sport for some schools’ programs,” the joint release said.
It was a shocking, but not surprising, announcement.
For years, the issues with D-9 football, particularly in the AML, had become more and more apparent. Teams were having to take bus rides of over two hours to play league games (though the fact that District 9 is spread out over eight counties would make any sort of alignment a challenge for some schools).
Even more concerning was the growing gulf in class between the AML North and South divisions. Crossover games ended in blowouts more often than not, with small programs like Cameron County and Port Allegany not having much of a chance against traditional powers like Kane.
These issues prompted complaints from fans and think pieces from the media. But ultimately, nothing was done.
With the formation of the new District 9 League, however, officials seemed to have finally gotten the message.
While no specifics have been laid as of yet, the general consensus is that the new format will consist of three divisions: a large school division made up of 10 schools (likely Bradford, Brockway, Brookville, Clarion, Kane, Karns City, Moniteau, Punxsutawney, Ridgway, and St. Marys), and two small school divisions with 12 schools (Cameron County, Clarion-Limestone, Coudersport, Curwensville, Elk Catholic, Keystone, Otto-Eldred, Port Allegany, Redbank Valley, Sheffield, Smethport, and Union/A-C Valley) organized by North and South.
The announcement lent an extra wrinkle of drama to what ended up being the final AML Championship Game, which Kane won 33-0 over Otto-Eldred.
After the game, Wolves head coach Todd Silfies (who announced he would be leaving the team only weeks later), offered some thoughts on the end of the AML.
“Growing up in the AML, I have a love for this league unlike any other,” Silfies told reporters after the game. “Looking back on the years of the AML it was just a powerful league with hard-nosed football players. I think 18 out of the last 20 years I was either playing or coaching in the AML. (I’m) sad to see it go but very happy to be the ones that won the last one.”
It is without a doubt the end of an era, but it’s one that most agree couldn’t come soon enough.
It is for all of these reasons why the end of the Allegheny Mountain League is the Era sports story of the year for 2017.
