LEWISTON — First outright CBB football championship in 10 years. First winning season in 31.

That’s the history Bates College will chase the next two Saturdays, beginning with its shortest road trip of the season to Bowdoin.

Bates moved to 3-3 for the first time since 1982 with a convincing 31-6 win over Colby. This weekend’s trip to Bowdoin (1-5), followed by a home date with Hamilton, furnishes the Bobcats with an opportunity to end two streaks that everyone wearing a maroon jersey or jacket is surely tired of discussing.

And based on records and common opponents, yes, Bates will be favored in its final two contests.

“Two big ones coming up,” Bates coach Mark Harriman acknowledged. “(The CBB title) is definitely one of our team goals, and it’s nice to be in a position to have that opportunity.”

The CBB series pits the Maine-based triangle of Colby, Bates and Bowdoin — long-suffering members of the New England Small College Athletic Conference who have struggled to compete consistently with the schools in the league’s southern corridor.

Even those regional bragging rights often have escaped Bates over the years. Bates has won the trophy outright only three times (1986, 1999 and 2002) since its most recent season over the .500 mark in 1981.

Two of those titles were won under Harriman, now in his 15th year. The three teams split the local laurels in 2011.

“Bowdoin will be ready. It’s the start of the CBB for them, which is always kind of the start of a new season,” Harriman said.

Clock-churning offense and ball-hawking defense have moved Bates toward the upper echelon of NESCAC.

The team’s turnover ratio of plus-13 is among the best in the nation at the NCAA Division III level. Led by safety Andrew Kukesh and cornerback Kyle Starr, the secondary has picked off 15 passes in six games.

“It’s a great unit. It’s hard to pick out any individuals,” Harriman said. “It has helped us having some longer drives to keep the defense fresh, but they’ve also done a great job getting off the field on third down.”

Keying the offense is senior quarterback Trevor Smith, whose combined passing and rushing exploits have yielded more than 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns.

Smith’s experience has made Bates’ triple option offense more efficient every season, consistently putting the Bobcats in favorable down-and-distance situations.

“Having all our guys healthy up front has made a huge difference for us,” Harriman said. “We have a few more playmakers on the field as well. We’re able to spread the ball around.”

Ryan Weston and Mark Sylvester are the seniors on a front five that also includes juniors Michael Bernstein and Michael Iannotti and sophomore Larry Guinee.

Patrick George and all-purpose back Ryan Curit bolster the backfield behind Smith, whose favorite targets are Kevin Davis (20 receptions) and Shawn Doherty (13).

Bates dominated Bowdoin 24-2 at home a year ago.

The Bobcats are wary of tailback Zach Donnarumma, whom they contained to 45 yards a year ago. Bates also picked off Bowdoin quarterback Mac Caputi four times.

“The guys do a good job staying focused,” Harriman said. “Every coach talks about one game at a time, but these guys have done a phenomenal job so far of coming back, whether what happened on Saturday was good, bad or indifferent, and getting ready for the next one.”

Kickoff time is 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Whittier Field.

koakes@sunjournal.com