PORT HENRY — For the 2008 Moriah Vikings, it was nice to make it to the state championship game.

However, being just good enough to get to the Carrier Dome wasn't the end-all goal. The goal was to bring back a first-ever Moriah Class D state championship to the North Country.

And that didn't happen. In fact, it didn't even come close to happening.

Moriah found itself down by a 42-0 margin at the half, and the then-unbeaten Vikings didn't score until the latter part of the second half in a 55-7 deficit.

"They took it personally," Moriah coach Don Tesar said of his players. "We wanted to go there and show everyone we're as good as any D team in the state, and that's what we're going to try and do again this year."

The loss wasn't for a lack of trying — Maple Grove was just that good. The Dragons outscored postseason opponents 328-60 that year.

"Maple Grove had so many formations — shotgun, trips, splits, five-wide "¦ It was kind of like getting ready for Peru," Tesar said.

But don't expect that from Section VI's Randolph at the Carrier Dome Saturday.

Randolph slated itself in a 2009 title match with Moriah by a ground-slaughter — for lack of a more extreme term — of Groton last week.

The Cardinals rushed for 601 yards and nine touchdowns in a 61-8 victory in the semifinal game. They have only attempted 15 passes all season long.

"With them, we know what's coming," Tesar said. "Their style is 'line it up, here we come, and try to stop us.'

"We are facing a Section XI team that is very powerful," he added. "Randolph seems like more of a northeast team with their style."

Another key difference in this season's trip to the Dome is the team's comfort level.

"Because we've already been there, we won't be in awe from being in the Dome," Moriah quarterback Nate Gilbo said. "I feel like it's definitely more exciting this year."

Gilbo said that the temperature in the building was the main difference to him, as the team is usually playing in near-freezing temperatures by the end of the season.

"I think it caught the players off guard with how dry it was in there," Tesar said.

The Vikings expect their nerves to be a little more manageable this time around. The team had a couple early fumbles on offensive exchanges in the game last year.

John Petro, Moriah's starting center, handles the ball every offensive snap. He said because it is the end of his second year at the position, he feels much more comfortable.

"This year, I'm definitely more confident," Petro said. "And I have tons of faith in Nate."