Zama's Kaisei Muta cuts around left end against Matthew C. Perry during Friday's DODEA-Japan football game. The Trojans won 50-0. (Kevin Rossiter/Special to Stripes)

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan – Things didn’t start out so well for Zama’s football team. Coach Scott Bolin had to spend a time out on the first play.

“We started out rough, but we shook the rust off and the kids rose to the challenge,” Bolin said. “And from there, we didn’t stop. The kids responded and responded well.”

Leading the way was a strong running game that netted four rushing touchdowns and a defense that forced three fumbles and recorded three sacks, as the Trojans won their eighth straight game dating back to the opening game of last season.

Will Schmiedel rushed four times for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Denver Cape led the Trojans with 142 yards on eight attempts plus a touchdown. Ayden Helton added 21 yards on three tried with a TD, and also threw two touchdown passes to Jeremiah Georges.

Keahnu Araki caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Schmiedel. Ayden Moore had one of Zama’s three sacks and one of its fumble recoveries.

Matthew C. Perry's Kameron Ramos gets hemmed in by Zama defenders Caleb Schmiedel, Jefferey Woolard and during Friday's DODEA-Japan footballl game. The Trojans won 50-0. (Kevin Rossiter/Special to Stripes)

Matthew C. Perry punter Preston Ramirez boots the ball againt Zama during Friday's DODEA-Japan football game. The Trojans won 50-0. (Kevin Rossiter/Special to Stripes)

Zama's Keahnu Araki races around left end against Matthew C. Perry during Friday's DODEA-Japan football game. The Trojans won 50-0. (Kevin Rossiter/Special to Stripes)

“We have some good football playing kids moving toward becoming excellent,” Bolin said. “And we have a good coaching staff working with them to help them become elite.”

For a Samurai team that two seasons ago had the best DODEA-Japan Division II record, it was a rough start.

“We had some nice plays early, but too much inexperience right now,” Perry coach Daniel Burns said. “We’ll learn from this and bounce back.”

Perry heads to Daegu next Friday, while Zama travels to Robert D. Edgren.