LEWISTON — Bates College is saying all the right and requisite things about its first-ever appearance in the New England Division III football rankings.

“It’s great for people outside the team,” Bates coach Mark Harriman said. “To the guys on the team, they know that picks and polls are all about what you’ve done in the past, not what you’re going to do.”

Let’s stop and take a whiff of the flowers on the Bobcats’ behalf, shall we?

Not only has Bates never been represented in the regional top 10, it hasn’t even sniffed such lofty air.

The poll has only existed since 1988. That’s seven years after the last time Bates registered a winning record, if you’re keeping track.

Last Saturday’s 35-26 victory at Williams — a team that went undefeated in 2010 — was the Bobcats’ second victory over the Ephs all-time. It put Bates (2-1) over .500 after the third game of the season for the first time since 1982.

You might expect Bates to remain the best-kept secret in the NESCAC for a while, in light of that history. Instead, the Bobcats surfaced this week at No. 9 in New England, joining No. 2 Trinity and No. 3 Amherst as representatives of their league.

“It’s great to be recognized,” Harriman said. “When people look at one of our game films, that’s probably as much of a wakeup call (to them) as anything.”

Two Maine programs are represented in the poll. Maine Maritime is ranked seventh.

Bates is even basking in national attention. Its pass defense is ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III, intercepting 9.28 percent of its opponents’ pass attempts through three weeks.

Brett McAllister and Kyle Starr each have picked off three passes. Starr returned one for a touchdowns against Williams. Cam Evans has reeled in two.

Kevin Helm made a staggering 16 tackles against the Ephs, including three for losses. Three Williams drives died in the red zone.

“They just continue to play well and make big plays when it counts,” Harriman said.

In its current two-game winning streak, Bates put old nemeses Tufts and Williams in a hole early and never let them escape.

John Squires caught two first-quarter touchdowns from Trevor Smith at Williams.

While past Bates teams had one or two go-to guys on offense, Smith is surrounded by weapons in the triple option. Having Squires’ size in the flat and the hands of South Portland’s Ryan Curit on quick-outs has opened up the running game for Smith and Patrick George.

“Trevor is doing a great job picking guys out, going for the open receiver and not just getting it to one guy,” Harriman said.

Harriman is his 14th autumn with the Bobcats. They were 4-4 in 1999, his second season.

Two wins have been the high point ever since, but Bates seems poised to shatter that ceiling. The Bobcats already have played traditional powers Amherst (20-7 loss) and Williams.

Saturday’s road victory repaid a 41-0 home shellacking from Williams in 2010.

“It’s one thing to kick a field goal at the end of the game and win,” Harriman said. “To really come out strong and take control of the game the way we have is nice.”

Bates travels to Connecticut’s capital district Saturday to face Wesleyan (2-1) in a battle of surprise clubs.

“They’re a physical team,” Harriman said. “They’re a lot like us in many ways.”

Except for the ranking, of course.

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