FRUITPORT – The Fruitport football team has started the season 0-3 after a disappointing 44-20 loss to Hamilton at home on Friday night.

It was a complete turnaround from last year’s encounter with the Hawkeyes, which Fruitport won 61-36.

And it certainly wasn’t what the Trojans had in mind after two disappointing losses in the first two weeks of the season.

But at this point, effort is going to matter a lot as the Trojans try to right the ship, and head coach Nate Smith said there was a good amount of that.

Fruitport’s Bobby Canfield hauls in a pass. Photo/Jeremy Clark

“I though in pieces our guys rallied tonight,” said Smith, whose team is now 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the O-K Blue conference. “Especially some guys who maybe don’t get a ton of reps. They played with some heart tonight.”

While the Trojans showed effort, things started out rough as Hamilton jumped out to a 24-0 lead just over 10 minutes into the game.

The Hawkeyes scored on Ben Boehm runs of seven and 31 yards while Keaton Haverdink had a touchdown run of 42 yards.

In the second quarter, Boehm scored on runs of 61 and 11 yards through half the quarter to give Hamilton a 36-0 lead.

Fruitport’s Kayden Beardsley tries to slip away from Hamilton defenders. Photo/Jeremy Clark

Fruitport got off the mat and responded with a 11-yard touchdown pass from QB Brandon Dornbos to Bobby Canfield with 3:48 remaining in the first half.

The game remained 36-6 as the teams left the field for halftime.

“They’re a heck of a football team,” said Smith about Hamilton’s hot start. “They came out and punched us in the mouth. That’s probably one of the best Hamilton teams I’ve seen in a long time. They did a heck of a job.”

The lone third quarter score came with 1:21 remaining when Boehm dashed in for a 16-yard touchdown run to make the score 44-6 in favor of Hamilton.

Fruitport quarterback Bradon Dornbos tries to break out of a Hamilton player’s grip. Photo/Jeremy Clark

In the fourth quarter, Dornbos threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Kayden Beardsley and broke loose for a 24-yard touchdown run, ultimately making the final score 44-20.

While the outcome was hard to swallow, Smith said the Trojans’ spirit has not been broken.

“That’s the stuff you build on,” the coach said about a bench that was dialed in and cheering each other on throughout the game. “I feel like we’re in the same position we were in a couple years ago. We’re pretty young and inexperienced. But we got some guys who are seniors and locked in giving it all they got. I think the young guys are watching and seeing older guys locked in and want to do the same out of respect for them.”

Dornbos led the Trojan effort with 82 yards and two touchdowns on 7-of-10 passing while also totaling 79 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.

Fruitport will travel to Holland Christian for another conference game next Friday.