They have forged a reputation as one of the top Division III programs in New England, but the Colby Mules may be the best-kept college football secret in Maine.

Several factors play into that relative anonymity. Colby’s only in-state foes are New England Small College Athletic Conference rivals Bowdoin of Brunswick and Bates of Lewiston, and the Mules don’t have a ton of former Maine high school standouts on their 74-player roster.

And there is no potential postseason glory, as NESCAC does not compete in the NCAA or ECAC playoffs in football.

“The college football scene here outside the University of Maine is somewhat under the radar,” said Colby third-year coach Ed Mestieri, “but the level of football in our league, as well as at Husson and Maine Maritime, is an outstanding level of football. I think when people come to see us play or see those folks play they’re really surprised by the competitive level that exists, so we might be a bit of a secret.”

Colby’s competitive level is borne out by its recent success. The Mules are 18-6 the last three seasons, including 7-1 last fall when they finished second in the final New England Division III poll to Trinity, which takes an NCAA-best 30-game win streak into Saturday’s opener against Colby at Hartford, Conn.

“Based on our record in recent years we consider ourselves one of the top-tier teams in our league,” Mestieri said, “so we embrace the opportunity to show that we belong in that top tier, and we’re excited about going down there.”

Colby averaged 25.7 points per game while allowing just 14.3 points an outing last year, good for 15th-best in NCAA Division III. The Mules hope for similar balance this fall.

Offensively, Colby will be led by senior co-captain Justin Smith, a third-year starter at quarterback who earned second-team all-conference honors last year by completing 83 of 148 passes for 976 yards and 13 touchdowns, and junior tailback Chris Bashaw, who ranked eighth among NESCAC rushers in 2005 (5.8 yards per carry). Tight end Brennan Moore is a top receiving threat, while senior co-captain Tom Bourdeau anchors the offensive line.

Defensively, the Mules feature all-conference senior defensive back Mike Bracco, the lone NESCAC player named to the 2006 Football Gazette NCAA Division III preseason All-America team after a 2005 campaign in which he led the Mules in total tackles (67), solo tackles (45) and interceptions (4). Classmate Andrew Heaney, another All-NESCAC choice in 2005, anchors a deep linebacking corps.

“We have experience at quarterback and running back and tight end, and a good nucleus of players on the offensive line,” said Mestieri, whose team plays its home opener Sept. 30 against Middlebury. “But defense I think is going to be the strength of our team.”

Colby won its third straight Colby-Bates-Bowdoin title and fifth in the last six years in 2005, edging Bates 24-17 and then whipping Bowdoin 28-3 in a regular-season finale that determined second place in the NESCAC standings.

“They’re just such long-standing rivalries that date back to 1892,” Mestieri said. “They’re a series about pride, a series about bragging rights, and they’re just fiercely competitive games.”

Bowdoin, whose 6-2 record last fall was the school’s best in three decades, returns eight starters on defense for seventh-year coach Dave Caputi, led by All-NESCAC senior defensive back Brendan Murphy.

The Polar Bears are rebuilding on offense, particularly at the skill positions, but a veteran line hopes to propel Bowdoin to its first back-to-back winning seasons since 1979 and 1980.

Bates went 2-6 for the third straight year last fall, but it was a record marked by several narrow defeats, including a one-point loss to perennial NESCAC power Williams, the seven-point loss to Colby and a 21-14 loss to Bowdoin.

Coach Mark Harriman’s club boasts a veteran quarterback in junior Brandon Colon, who passed for 1,165 yards last year, as well as the fourth-leading rusher in NESCAC in Jamie Walker and All-NESCAC wide receiver in Dylan MacNamara. Nine starters are back on defense, led by senior defensive end Terence Ryan, who’s 10.5 sacks in 2005 were the most by a NESCAC player since current New York Jets coach Eric Mangini had the same number while playing at Wesleyan in 1993.