Who's the best team without a title?

Quick question: Name the best area high school football team never to win a state title.
Got an answer? I don't.
But I like the question. Which is why, when I was interviewing former Cardinal Mooney coach Don Bucci this summer, I decided to ask him. He wasn't allowed to name one of his own teams.
"I'd have to say Hubbard's 1973 team," he said. "They were a great, great team. It just so happened, we were also a good team."
Chances are, most of you have your own answer to this question. And chances are, Hubbard's 1973 team isn't it. The Eagles went 7-3 that season, losing to Mooney, Fitch and Ursuline and missed the playoffs.
The Cardinals, of course, went on to beat Warren Western Reserve that season to win their first state title.
Warren Reserve, which won the first state title in 1972, became one of 11 area teams to have lost in the state final. Here are the others: Mooney (1985), Boardman (1987), Campbell (1989), Warren JFK (1989, 92), McDonald (1989, 94), Wellsville (1994), Chaney (1997) and Warren Harding (2002).
Some very good teams over the years have either missed the playoffs (although that's rare nowadays) or stumbled once they got there.
Irish
"Our 1988 team missed making the playoffs by about 1/100th of a point," said Howland coach Dick Angle, who coached at Ursuline for 18 years. "That team probably would have won it."
The Irish also had the talent to win it in 1989, '92 and '93, Angle said, but the best teams aren't always the ones that win state titles.
"I know that in our Steel Valley days, the competition was so good that a lot of times you were physically beat up," Angle said. "The same schedule that helped you get into the playoffs hurt you physically.
"The teams that win are usually the ones that are healthiest and on the upswing late in the season."
Angle's pick for the best team never to have won it? Mooney's 1985 team, which lost to Galion 6-0 in the state final.
"They were very talented -- certainly more talented that the team they played that night," Angle said. "But as we all know, on any given night ..."
Struthers
Struthers may have been good enough to win it all in 1987, but John Gerak (who went on to play at Penn State) was injured much of the season and the Wildcats had the misfortune of playing Cardinal Mooney in the playoffs.
Mooney beat the Wildcats 21-3 in the second round and went on to win the Division III state title.
"[Mooney coach] Don Bucci said we were the best team they played that season," Struthers coach Gary Zetts said. "We had some talented kids. But the fans would probably say, 'See, he couldn't win even when he had talent.' "
Niles coach Phil Annarella coached at Warren Western Reserve and led Warren Harding to a state title in 1990 -- the first year the two schools consolidated.
But when asked the question, he just laughed and shook his head.
"Oh no, I wouldn't touch that with a 10-foot pole," Annarella said. "I may have an opinion, but I'll never give it out."
So the question remains unresolved.
Which was the best team not to win it all? Mooney's 1981 team? Boardman's 1987 team? Warren Harding's 2001 team?
Help wanted
I'm ready to be persuaded.
From now until our state championship series ends on Nov. 12, I'll be taking votes (with brief reasons why) on the best area team never to win a state title since the playoffs began in 1972.
Write me. E-mail me. Heck, grab me at a cross country meet and badger me. Whatever it takes. Whether you're a longtime coach, or you're one of those guys who sits at his computer at 3 a.m., I want your vote. The most worthy team will be featured on Nov. 19.
I look forward to hearing from you.
XJoe Scalzo is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write to him at scalzo@vindy.com.