Throughout the remainder of August and the month of September, we will be looking back at the 2003 season of Owensville Dutchmen football in which they made history by being the first team to reach the state semifinals.

One coach from that team returning to this year’s staff as a volunteer assistant is then head coach Randy Crowe.

Serving as head coach two decades ago, Crowe recalled two facets of their state semifinal showdown with Ste. Genevieve’s Dragons at Dutchmen Field.

“The day we played Ste. Genevieve, I killed a deer that morning,” Crowe said. “I came over the hill and it was the first time I’d really seen a tailgate.”

Crowe was then in awe over the amount of people from Ste. Genevieve and Owensville that were tailgating.

“All of these Ste. Genevieve people were tailgating,” Crowe said. “I went around and probably ate more food than I had in a long time. They were just awesome people.”

The size of the crowd that Saturday afternoon also amazed Crowe.

“The crowd at that semifinal game was unbelievable,” Crowe said. “The stands were full and you had no place to just stand around. Fans were all around the track and it was probably one of the best environments I’d ever played in especially because it was at home.

Currently living in Owensville, Crowe still officiates track and cross country meets for the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA).

Recently becoming the Technology Director of the Washington School District in Franklin County, former Dutchmen assistant football coach Casey Fisher also reflected back on the 2003 football season.

“We played a rain-soaked game in Moberly and Jesse Jett played with a cast on his arm,” Fisher said. “Contending with the cast, Jett made some big catches to help us win that game.”

Fisher worked with both the offensive and defensive lines under then head coach Crowe.

Another former assistant coach under Crowe added his recollection of the 2003 season.

Formerly the high school principal at both Owensville and St. James, Joe Stammers has since retired and now lives in Raymore, Mo., with his wife Diane so that they can be closer to their kids and grandchildren.

“One memory of the 2003 season that I have was the playoff game in a downpour and mud at Moberly,” Stammers said. “Our kids showed their determination and fight with a great win.”

Stammers’ next memory came from their semifinal showdown at Dutchmen Field against Ste. Genevieve’s Dragons.

“I thought the atmosphere and crowd was awesome for the Saturday afternoon final four game against Ste. Genevieve,” Stammers said. “What a great bunch of athletes we had that season that came together for a memorable season.”

Stammers worked with the quarterbacks and defensive backs in addition to being the offensive coordinator during the 2003 season of Owensville Dutchmen football.

Welcoming Potosi back to the schedule the year before with a 34-26 overtime win in 2002, Crowe’s Dutchmen opened their 2003 season with a 34-23 victory on the road over the Trojans in Washington County.

That victory was also the first in Crowe’s Dutchmen head-coaching career.

Jesse Jett and Layne Kreter led the Dutchmen offense that night against Potosi both crossing the 100-yard rushing mark.

More memories from the 2003 season of Owensville Dutchmen football will be in upcoming installments of ‘Will’ful Thinking.