SYRACUSE — Distant and quiet when he spoke, Hayden Whalen struggled to find the words to describe what kind of impact he felt he made on Moriah football.

The senior lineman was just minutes removed from a 41-0 loss to Randolph in the NYSPHSAA Class D championship game at the Carrier Dome, the second consecutive year the Vikings have reached and lost in the title match.

The longest-tenured player on the varsity roster, Whalen was finally able to reflect after a brief pause.

"It was great playing here," said Whalen, who was brought up to start on the offensive line during his freshman year. "I wish I had another year.

"I wish I could play here forever, but I can't, so I'll have to move on."

Whalen can move on knowing he was a part of a resurgence in Moriah football. The latest crop of seniors compiled a 38-4 record that stretched over two undefeated years of JV football and two seasons on the varsity level. Although the Vikings couldn't bring home any state hardware, Moriah coach Don Tesar knows the impact this group brought to the program.

"They probably turned Moriah football around," Tesar said.

The record speaks for itself. In the last two years, the Vikings have amassed a 21-4 record while capturing two Section VII/X Class D titles. Moriah had to get through heated rival Ticonderoga to do so, and then faced stiff competition at the state level to reach the Carrier Dome two years.

Last season, the Vikings won 12 straight games before bowing out against Maple Grove in the championship game. Coming into the 2009 season, Moriah had to replace key players on both sides of the ball, but did bring back three starters on the offensive line — Whalen, Sergio Camacho and John Petro. Ron Schofield took over Jim Carlson's duties at halfback and free safety. Nate Gilbo replaced Tyler Blaise at quarterback.

Moriah struggled out of the gate, posting a 1-2 record because of two consecutive overtime losses to Class B teams Beekmantown (finished 9-1) and Peru (finished 7-2).

"They came back and worked a little bit harder," Tesar said. "They had to come into week four against an undefeated Malone team, so they came back and battled hard and won in that and then we picked up momentum and kept going."

Kept going all the way to the Carrier Dome because of eight straight wins.

"We were 1-2 at one point and it looked like it was going downhill," Camacho said. "We just stepped it up and the coaches helped us step it up and started playing our game. We just played our hearts out."

The Vikings have a lot of transition to take care of before next season. Four of Moriah's offensive line graduates, as do Schofield and Gilbo. There were 14 seniors on the Vikings roster this season, many of them starters.

Camacho, the lone returning offensive lineman next season, said the loss this year will help inspire the team to work hard in the offseason.

"It's going to motivate us really hard because this year we're definitely going to bust our butts in the weight room," said Camacho, a two-year starter.

The Vikings have a steeper hill to climb for next season, but you don't make it to back-to-back state title games without having depth and the ability to retool.

"I imagine this group right here is going to want to come back and be here again next year," Tesar said. "That will be one of their goals, to get back to this spot."

E-mail Ryan Hayner at: rhayner@ressrepublican.com