Hawkeyes Down Dutch In The 2003 Season Opener.
By Landen TenBrink
Sep. 21, 2026
The Hamilton Hawkeyes opened their 2003 football season with the Holland Dutch on August 29.
Hamilton started off their 2003 football season strongly winning this game 47-22 against the Dutch.
Hamilton had many key players in this game to help lead them to a win.
Dustin Smith the Hawkeyes running back had 72 yards on the ground and 2 touchdowns with 10 carries.
Dustin Smith also added to those stats with 144 yards with 2 receptions one reception going for 70 yards and the other going for 74 yards.
Ten players combined for 310 yards rushing for the Hawkeyes, having one of the biggest rushing games this season for the Hawkeyes.
One key player was Matt Mokma rushed for 129 yards and 10 carries and had 2 touchdowns.
Dustin Smith started the Hawkeyes off with a 6 yard rushing touchdown putting the Hawkeyes up 6-0 to start the game with 5:57 on the clock in the first quarter.
After the Hawkeyes scored the touchdown the Dutch struck back and had a 65 yard drive with a 18 yard pass touchdown, Holland made the extra point and put the game at a 7-6 Holland lead.
After this, Holland kicked the ball off and Hamilton fumbled, Holland recovered the ball back on the Hamilton 40.
After the fumble, things weren’t looking good for the Hawkeyes.
Holland started the drive on the 40 and threw an interception to Paul Jurgens on the Hawkeyes.
Hamilton got the ball back and Daniel Saenebouttareth, the Hawkeyes quarterback, threw a pass to Dustin Smith and brought it home for a 70 yard Hawkeyes touchdown.
Hamilton goes back up with the score being 12-7 after the first quarter. Holland starts the 2nd quarter with a touchdown to take the lead back 14-12.
Hamilton gets the ball back and Smith picks up his 2nd rushing touchdown and his 2nd receiving touchdown, putting the Hawkeyes up 25-14 at half.
The Hamilton Hawkeyes offense ran the first half going into the 2nd half they needed the defense to step up.
The defense came out the 2nd half and really stepped it up, the Hawkeyes defense forced 3 punts, intercepted 2 passes, scored a touchdown and got a safety.
Holland suffered scoring in the 2nd half due to Hamilton’s defense taking over the game.
Bobby Knight, a key defensive player had both interceptions in the 2nd half and returning one for 45 yards to the end zone.
The Hawkeyes had 449 offensive yards compared to the Dutches 324 yards.
At the end of the game Coach Chris Meyers says “ We are going on a bear hunt this year and that is all I have to say about that.”
This game was an important game for the Hawkeyes proving they could do something this season.
The Hawkeyes started this season with a very strong start from the defensive side of the ball and the offensive side of the ball.
They proved a statement to all the teams having to play the rest of the season.
Hamilton ended off the 2003 season with one of the best seasons in school history with the record of 10-1.