The Colby White Mules have always been a formidable member of the New England Small College Athletic Conference football ranks.

Last season, coach Tom Austin’s team climbed to the top, posting a 7-1 record, the program’s best since 1994, and earning a share of the first-ever NESCAC championship along with Amherst and Middlebury.

The Mules, who ended the season ranked fifth among New England Division III schools, captured their 10th Colby-Bates-Bowdoin series title in the last 13 years and were undefeated on their home turf at Seaverns Field.

It doesn’t get much better than that, but the Mules appear to have enough talent, confidence and momentum to carry them toward another outstanding fall.

While matching or surpassing its 2000 success won’t be easy, the team is motivated to do just that.

“They know what it takes and it certainly is comforting to be able to draw on some positive experiences,” said Austin, the 2000 NESCAC Coach of the Year and the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston’s Division II-III Coach of the Year.

“There’s lots of room for improvement, individually and collectively,” he added, “Our primary goal is to become more efficient individually and collectively.”

Colby is blessed with experience. Eight starters return on offense, while seven starters are back on the defensive side.

On offense, the Mules will rely on the leadership of junior quarterback Pat Conley of Bath, senior multipurpose back Danny Noyes and senior tackle Bodo Heiliger, each of whom were All-NESCAC first-team selections.

Conley emerged as the premier passer in the league, completing 139 of 250 passes for 1,996 yards and 14 touchdowns. He set a league mark for total offense and established five school passing records.

His targets include the elusive Noyes, who led the conference with 54 catches and 872 yards (109 yards per game), junior fullback Don Williams of Owls Head (21 rec., 131 yds.) and junior Lee Carlson (14 rec., 281 yds.).

Noyes also was Colby’s top rusher (386 yds.), but he is complemented in the backfield by Williams and seniors Joe Murray and Rashad Randolph.

Up front, Heiliger is joined by senior co-captain and three-year starter Brian Wezowicz, junior center Matt Mahoney, and tackles Rob Vail of East Boothbay and Jason Cummings of Pittsfield.

Colby has another weapon in senior place-kicker Keith Jonassen of Albion.

Defense is always a priority for the Mules, which a year ago ranked third in the NESCAC in yards allowed per game (262) and allowed only 12.5 points per outing. Colby registered 29 sacks, made 16 interceptions and finished with a plus-10 in turnovers.

Junior linebacker Mike Moran is back after leading the team in tackles his first two seasons. He lines up alongside junior Jeff Owen, who had 68 tackles in 2000, and junior Luke Webster, who returns after having his season cut short by an injury.

Kevin Smalley, a junior tackle, was a second-team, all-league choice last fall. Ends Jason Grantham and Mike DiStefano aare other key men on the line. Senior co-captain Patrick Fahey returns at safety while senior Jason Brooks of Lisbon Falls and Carlson are veterans.

Colby remains focused on working hard while avoiding complacency.

“We need to continue to execute with purpose, come ready to play every Saturday and play with great respect for our opponents.”