While there have been some forfeit wins since, when Ka'u beat Konawaena, 12-0, in Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division II football Friday night in Pahala, it was the Trojans' first win on the field since 1999.

But to second-year coach Greg Rush, it's no fluke.

"I told the papers before the season we'll win four, five games," Rush said in a telephone interview.

The Trojans' previous win was Oct. 8, 1999 in a 23-15 win against Kealakehe, also at home.

"I'm very excited, especially for the kids," Rush said. "They really, really need it."

The win is a far cry from last season. At its first practice, Rush had the players get into stances. He had to confer with his coaches on the spot.

"Not one player could make a stance," he recalled.

That's when Rush decided the 2009 season was going to be trial by fire. All 22 players played. It wasn't pretty (0-8 and outscored 374 to 38), but parents were happy because their boys were playing, coaches were able to make evaluations and the players were getting needed experience.

The Trojans had 26 players available against Konawaena, 20 of them played, Rush said. He is anticipating 29 for this week's game when Ka'u hosts Hawaii Prep, which might be the best team, regardless of division, on the Big Island.

It's not as if the Trojans do anything exotic on offense. They run a basic power-I. They ran mainly behind 5-foot-8, 140-pound right tackle Marcus Grace, a converted wide receiver. Rush said the position switch was made because Grace was the team's best blocker.

"We ran four (different) plays the whole game," Rush said.

Sure, the Trojans are likely to lose to the bigger schools. But Rush said they will hold their own in other games. It was never a question of their character. It was just a matter of the players earning to play the game.

"These kids are tough," Rush said. "They're pig hunters, some are in the rodeo."

According to the Hawaii Tribune-Herald game report, running back/receiver Michael Alcoran scored both TDs for the Trojans. He had a 20-yard TD reception from Ernest Breithaupt-Louis and a five-yard TD run.

Rush said the Trojans should have scored more, but they turned over the ball five times. Rush attributed that to "game jitters."