Colby College of Waterville has taken small steps the last two years toward the goal of re-establishing the White Mules not only as the team to beat in Maine’s Colby-Bates-Bowdoin series and as a contender in the New England Small College Athletic Conference.

Coach Tom Austin’s squad, which has not won a CBB title since 1996, went 3-5 last season. The Mules lost three games by a touchdown or less.

Austin hopes an experienced defensive unit featuring eight returning starters can hold down the fort while the offense integrates some new players. If the Mules are successful, there could be plenty of football excitement this fall on Mayflower Hill.

“We have a nice mix of older and younger kids and exceptional leadership from our two captains, Mark D’Ambrosio and Drew Johnson,” said Colby’s 15th-year coach, who said inexperience hurt the Mules in 1999.

“More than anything, it was immaturity,” he said. “We had seven freshmen start last year.”

However, the Mules are attempting to show improvement in the always tough NESCAC. Colby opens on the road Saturday at perennial power Williams, which boasted a 70-8-2 record (.888).

Colby is building its defense around strong safety D’Ambrosio, who made three of the Mules’ school-record 18 interceptions a year ago. Johnson, a linebacker, made 53 tackles out of Colby’s aggressive 4-3 alignment.

Cornerback Jared Beers of Kittery and free safety Jason Brooks of Lisbon Falls also had three interceptions each last season. The linebacking corps also includes NESCAC Defensive Rookie of the Year Mike Moran, a middle linebacker, who led the Mules with 82 tackles a year ago.

Lee Wilson is penciled in at the other cornerback spot, while Luke Webster is the other ‘backer.

Colby has a couple of big holes to fill in the defensive line, where senior Justin Pare and junior Dan Greenfield and sophomore Kevin Smalley are expected to step in and play. Mike DiStefano and Jason Grantham are the ends.

The Mules allowed 21 points and 300 yards per game last season, but yielded less than three yards per rush.

On offense, Colby must replace several key players. Junior Dan Noyes finished fourth in the league last season with 41 receptions for 581 yards. He is complemented by senior flanker Andrew Tripp of Saco and sophomore tight end Ian MacPherson.

Sophomore Pat Conley of Bath has assumed the quarterback duties.

“He is very fluid,” Austin said. “He runs and passes very nicely. He’s very calm and he makes things happen.”

Don Williams of Owls Head returns at fullback. He’ll be teaming up with sophomore Rashad Randolph, who will try to pick up where graduated senior Tom Keblin left off – ranking fourth in the NESCAC in rushing each of the last two seasons.

Colby presented opponents with a balanced attack last season, rushing for 125 yards per game and passing for 173 per contest. In order to improve upon those numbers, junior tackle Bodo Heiliger and junior guard Brian Wezowicz must establish the tone as the returning starters up front.

Junior tackle Jason Cummings of Pittsfield, senior guard Matt Carter and soph center Matt Mahoney are among the newcomers in the line.

On special teams, Colby looks to junior Keith Jonassen of Albion to do the place-kicking and Tripp for the punting chores.