One win became two, and just like that, a Colby College football team that started the season 0-4 is riding a winning streak.

“We’re on a little bit of a roll here. Some of the younger guys have a few games under their belt, and we’ve got a few guys healthy,” coach Ed Mestieri said.

The Mules also have a little confidence, Mestieri said.

“We found a way to win at Hamilton, and we built on that,” Mestieri said. “Confidence often times can be a difference maker, and I think it is now. It’s not that we’re cocky or arrogant, it’s just until you win, you’re not sure you can.”

The Mules played their best game of the season last week in beating rival Bates, 37-13. Colby amassed 490 total yards while holding the Bobcats to 259.

“It was just nice to see us put some points on the board. They’re a good football team, and we held them in check,” Mestieri said.

Colby plays its final home game of the season Saturday against a Tufts team that might be better than its 0-6 record indicates. The Jumbos hung with undefeated Trinity before losing 9-0 and were in a tight game at Williams before the Ephs pulled away in the second half.

“They’ve been on the cusp of success a couple times,” Mestieri said. “We expect we’re going to get the best game Tufts has played all year. They’re going to be hungry. We’re 2-4. They’re looking at us, saying ‘Hey, we can go get these guys.’ “

• • •

The Colby-Bates-Bowdoin series hits round two this weekend, with Bates hosting Bowdoin. Colby took a 37-13 win over Bates last week. If Bowdoin wins, it sets up a championship game next week when Colby plays at Bowdoin. If Bates wins, Colby can win the title outright with a victory over the Polar Bears.

Bowdoin is coming off a 12-6 win over Wesleyan. Injuries have pressed freshman quarterback Mac Caputi, son of head coach Dave Caputi, into service. Caputi completed just 5 of 20 passes for the Polar Bears last week, but a running game led by Zac Donnarumma, who rushed for a game-high 158 yards, helped Bowdoin control the ball for more than 35 minutes.

Defensively, Bowdoin is among the New England Small College Athletic Conference leaders, allowing 265.3 yards per game.

• • •

It’s been a tough season for Husson. The Eagles are 0-8 heading into Saturday’s game at Castleton State, where Husson hopes to snap a 12-game losing streak that dates to the middle of the 2010 season.

There are reasons for the Eagles to be optimistic about the future, and that’s the large number of young players contributing this season, who should continue to improve as they mature.

Four of Husson’s top five rushers are freshmen, including Imadhi Zagon of Portland and Ryan Dorso of Farmingdale. Four of the top five receivers are either freshmen or sophomores, and the offensive line is also full of neophytes.

Youth reigns on the Husson defense, too, where seven of the top 10 tacklers are freshmen or sophomores.

On special teams, Waterville’s Kyle Bishop is third in the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference, averaging 35.7 yards per punt.

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

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