Two straight winning seasons, three consecutive victories over its archrival and a steady influx of in-state talent have everyone affiliated with the Maine Maritime Academy football program smiling.

“Some of the things that happened at the end of last season I think will carry into this season,” said Maine Maritime coach Chris McKenney.

Specifically, McKenney loves the way his Mariners responded to a rain-soaked, 3-0 loss to the United States Coast Guard Academy on the artificial turf in Castine. It washed away Maine Maritime’s chances of a division title and a berth in the New England Football Conference championship game.

One week later, though, the Mariners returned to the scene of the shattered dream and fended off Fitchburg State, 21-13, when Nate Bolduc of Farmington intercepted a pass at the goal line in the closing seconds.

“That carried us over into the weight room and the offseason,” McKenney said. “They made a commitment, and they’re ready to go and excited.”

Maine Maritime travels to Worcester, Mass., for its season-opener today with Becker College, then hosts Western New England College next week before embarking on its seven-game divisional schedule.

Bolduc, a 6-foot, 178-pound safety, is one of four captains for the Mariners, joining fellow defensive back Joe Blier of Bangor, linebacker Chris Tracy of Westbrook and halfback Brandon Goodrich of Waterboro.

“He makes a lot of big plays,” McKenney said of Bolduc. “He also picked up a fumble and ran it in against Becker last year.”

Starting at linebacker alongside Tracy is Travis Fergola of Rumford, the Campbell Conference Class B Player of the Year at Mountain Valley High School in 2005.

“We expect him to be a standout for us,” said McKenney. “He had a very good freshman year.”

Maine Maritime held its opponents to 15 points per game last season.

There are no secrets what the Mariners will try to do offensively, with sophomore Jim Bower of South Paris getting the bulk of the carries, while senior halfbacks Goodrich and Joe Farrin of Boothbay lead the way.

“Brandon doesn’t get a lot of carries in our offense, but he’s a tremendous blocker,” McKenney said. “What we like to so is run the ball and control the clock. Last year the offensive line was very young, so we think that will be a strength for us.”

All-conference quarterback Brandon Hamilton graduated, leaving the starting job up in the air between junior Chris Kates of Lisbon and sophomore Tyler Angell of Leeds.

Junior defensive back Rob Leighton of Auburn and sophomore offensive lineman Brandon Dubois of Lewiston hope to make an impact this season. Maine Maritime also boasts nine local first-year prospects: Franklin Sawyer of Leeds; Shawn Atkinson of North Turner; Mike Durrell of Livermore Falls; Mark Stambach of Lisbon Falls; Corey Allen of Manchester; Kyle Bowden and Joel Walker of Winthrop; Trevor McCourt of Jay; and Levi Montoya of Auburn.

Maine Maritime’s three losses came by a combined 12 points in 2006.

“It could have turned into an even better season,” McKenney noted. “We always want to win our division and represent our conference in the championship game. We’ve had the fortune of winning three in a row against Mass. Maritime. It would be the first time in school history to have a class go through and beat them four times in a row. So certainly we have some goals to look at.”

Maine Maritime schedule

Sept. 8 at Becker

Sept. 15 Western New England

Sept. 22 at Bridgewater State

Sept. 29 Westfield State

Oct. 6 Worcester State

Oct. 13 at Mass. Maritime

Oct. 20 Framingham State

Oct. 27 at Coast Guard

Nov. 3 at Fitchburg State