The disappointment was still fresh for Ron Miller, less than 24 hours after his West York football team's season came to a caustic conclusion in the District 3 semifinals.

Certainly, the pain from Friday's 7-6 Class AAA loss to Susquehanna Township will take time to subside. But already the coach couldn't help but cast an eye toward the future. Toward trying to get back to this point.

"As hard as it was, the mind's started working ahead already toward next year, places we need to improve," Miller said Saturday afternoon. "I got a bunch of bummed out coaches, and a lot of bummed out seniors, but the sun came up this morning."

Such is life for West York football. The work never really ends, not when you've established the reputation the Bulldogs have the past few years.

West York has now advanced to the district playoffs for all four of Miller's seasons in charge, and this year won a share of its third straight YAIAA Division II title.

In the coming weeks, the focus will shift to figuring out how to reload for 2010 and how to replace a talented senior class that compiled a 34-6 record the last three seasons.

As for Saturday, the sting from the previous night had mostly given way to pride in all his team had accomplished.

After losing 16 seniors from 2008's district title team, this year's 11-2 showing was more than most could have hoped for.

"The thing I'm most proud about, when it's all said and done, I don't think anybody in the area gave us a shot to

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do what we did this year," Miller said. "Losing the players that we lost and getting to where we got to."

West York nearly got even further. Only a pair of offensive miscues -- a missed two-point conversion in the third quarter and a fourth-quarter interception -- separated the Bulldogs from a return visit to Hersheypark Stadium.

Tailback Corey Harris had a team-high 90 rushing yards Friday and is part of the senior corps West York will have to replace. He rolled up 1,438 rushing yards and 28 total touchdowns this year.

Alex George, the winningest quarterback in school history, will also graduate along with leading receiver Dan Gay and defensive cogs Darion Bundy, Brandon Romeo and Kyle Kinard. Seven offensive starters Friday night were seniors, along with five on defense.

Miller has talked at length about how much those seniors have meant to the program. West York will hold its annual football awards banquet later this winter, and Miller -- as he does every year -- will speak individually about each senior.

"I do look forward to doing it, but it's not a lot of fun sometimes because it is emotional," Miller said.

By that time, the Bulldogs will have already begun working toward next year. Miller said West York will likely start its offseason weightlifting program in January, although some of his returning players might have trouble waiting until then.

"I know on the bus ride home, I heard them talking about getting in the weight room on Tuesday," Miller said.

Miller has some pieces coming back, including an group of returning offensive linemen he called "the best we've had since I've been here."

Juniors like receiver Brett Campbell and linebacker Chantz Illgenfritz, among others, also grew into prominent roles this year.

"There's a lot to be excited about," Miller said. "We were a lot younger than people realize this year."

None of which means replacing these seniors will be easy, but the foundation is in place.

And another stellar season makes Miller's long-term goal -- hanging with perennial powers like Manheim Central -- seem more plausible.

"That's what we're aiming for," Miller said. "We want to be a state-caliber program, and we're well on our way."

jclayton@ydr.com; 771-2045