Lahainaluna co-head coach Garrett Tihada knows in football size matters.

That's why Tihada won't be getting much sleep leading up to Friday's opening round of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division II Football State Championships.

Lahainaluna (6-3) will play at 'Aiea (8-3) in one of two first-round games Friday.

Lahainaluna employs a run-first offense with lots of misdirection and rotates up to seven running backs, according to Tihada.

Junior quarterback T.J. Rickard (5 foot 9, 140 pounds) is at the helm of the Lunas' offense. Rickard has passed for 652 yards with four touchdowns and has a team-leading 448 rushing yards with four scores. Junior Jostin Carbajal (5-8, 160) has run for 386 yards and five TDs and senior Sheldon Akina (5-11, 195) has 217 rushing yards and three scores. Senior George Chihara (5-5, 135) has three TDs and 292 rushing yards and senior receiver Pau'la Toa (6-1, 205), who also doubles as free safety, has 210 receiving yards and two scores.

"We'd like to run the ball about 70 percent of the time," said Tihada, who has 43 players on the roster. "We like to rotate our backs to keep fresh legs in there, but really, we rely on our (offensive) line, because we feel that no matter which back gets the ball, they can pick up the yards for us."

But Tihada isn't too concerned about his offense, mainly because he's got 'Aiea's defense on his mind.

"They're so big, that's something we're going to have to contend with," Tihada said. "They have size and speed ... they're very impressive."

'Aiea's defensive line is anchored by seniors Lawrence Lagafuaina (6-1, 310) and Api Foumai (6-2, 250), who will also see time on the offensive line, according to Nä Ali'i coach Wendell Say.

'Aiea is coming off a 21-7 loss to Moanalua in the OIA championship game — the second loss to Nä Menehune in four weeks. Nä Ali'i's only other loss came at Pearl City in August.

"I think having played another option team in Moanalua twice in the past month helps us prepare for Lahainaluna, except that they run a bit more misdirection," Say said. "Defensively, we'll have to play responsibly."

Say said his team will have a narrow margin for error against the Lunas.

"They're very disciplined and they minimize their mistakes," Say said. "Against Moanalua we beat ourselves by having little breakdowns."

Nä Ali'i quarterback Freddy Taliulu (6-0, 205) will try to rebound after tossing three interceptions against Nä Menehune. Taliulu, a junior, has thrown for 861 yards and eight TDs. Senior split end Kekoa Thompson (6-2, 190) has caught 37 passes for 688 yards and nine scores while junior running back Otto-Titan Salausa (5-10, 190) has run for 557 yards and six TDs.

"We don't have room for mistakes," Say said. "In this tournament, it's one loss and you're out ... there is no consolation bracket."

The Lunas, who are making their sixth state tournament appearance — fourth in Division II — won their third consecutive Maui Interscholastic League championship. Nä Ali'i, who captured the inaugural Division II state title in 2003, are making their first state tournament appearance since 2005, when they lost to Punahou in the first round of the Division I tournament.

The last meeting between 'Aiea and Lahainaluna was in the semifinals of the 2003 Division II State Tournament, which 'Aiea won, 24-14.

Moanalua (10-1) will host Hawai'i Prep (10-0) in the other game.

Both games will kickoff at 7 p.m.

The Lunas have turned around a season that began with losses to Kaua'i and Maui.

"This is actually a rebuilding year for us," Tihada said. "I would say that we've exceeded expectations this season."

Lahainaluna rebounded with a win over King Kekaulike on Sept. 12, but suffered a loss to Division I Baldwin the following week. The Lunas have won five straight games since the loss to the Bears, including consecutive wins over Maui (16-14), King Kekaulike (20-6) and Baldwin (28-14), to close out the regular season.

The Bears, who won their fifth straight league title, will play Leilehua Friday in a Division I State Tournament game at War Memorial Stadium.