The coaches of the Hawai'i football team may be up late on New Year's Eve, but they won't be hoisting any cocktails in New Orleans.

Hawai'i, playing in the biggest game in school history, is the only undefeated team in Division I-A and faces its toughest test against No. 4 Georgia in Tuesday's Sugar Bowl.

The 10th-ranked Warriors have plenty of offensive firepower, but the Bulldogs have their own not-so-secret weapon in running back Knowshon Moreno.

The 5-foot-11, 208-pound freshman was named second team All-Southeastern Conference after rushing for 1,273 yards and 12 touchdowns.

"They run the football very well," said Warriors' defensive coordinator Greg McMackin. "Georgia's skilled at every position, but those three backs are outstanding. They're the best running backs we've faced."

Senior Thomas Brown rushed for 706 yards and nine touchdowns. Brown and Moreno each started six games.

Hawai'i's defense, which gives up 132 rushing yards per game, has given up 200 ground yards three times this season, including a season-high 261 against Washington on Dec. 1.

The Warriors' defensive line will have its work cut out as Georgia puts up 32 points per game, and it begins with the tackles.

"The heart of our defense is our tackles," McMackin said. "Everything starts with our big 300-pounders. If they can cause enough disruption, the rest of the guys will have opportunities to make plays."

McMackin's attacking defense ranks ninth nationally in sacks, averaging more than three per game. They are also fifth in tackles for loss (8.5 per game).

But the Bulldogs' offensive line isn't too shabby either, giving up just more than one sack per game (17th in the nation).

"They're big and they look pretty quick. They're not as sloppy as some of the other teams we've played," said Michael Lafaele.

Lafaele, a 6-foot-1, 302-pound senior, is the anchor at tackle.

"They think we don't belong in this game," Lafaele said of the Bulldogs. "I think they're going to come down and try to run the ball down our throats, but we just have to play good football."

Keala Watson (6-3, 300), Fale Laeli (6-1, 292), Siave Seti (6-0, 291), Rocky Savaiigaea (6-2, 300) and Joshua Leonard (6-3, 274) also rotate in at the two tackle spots.

"If it wasn't for those guys, we couldn't even run this defense," said McMackin. "They're the ones pushing the pocket and starting the defense."

Junior David Veikune (6-3, 252) was named first team All-Western Athletic Conference after he collected 33 tackles, seven sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. He also has a safety on the year. Veikune plays at both end and tackle.

"David Veikune is one of our best players and I was glad to see him get all-league," said McMackin. "He has seven sacks and he plays half the time. He plays so hard that he gets exhausted."

The Warriors will rotate four players at the two defensive end positions.

Amani Purcell (6-4, 277) and Karl Noa (6-4, 251) will probably start, but Veikune and John Fonoti (6-3, 250) rotate in to keep fresh legs on the field.

"We do that because we try to keep them rested and so that they have more energy," said McMackin. "It helps their attitude and it definitely helps their endurance.""

Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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