After one touchdown apiece in the first half, 'Aiea and Lahainaluna combined for 19 points in the final three minutes as Nä Ali'i defeated the Lunas, 20-12, in the first round of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division II Football State Championships at 'Aiea last night.

'Aiea (9-3) advances to play top-seeded 'Iolani (10-2) Friday at Radford High School at 7 p.m.

The 'Aiea defense recorded two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and with just over a minute remaining in the game, blocked an extra-point attempt to preserve the lead.

"Defense was very big," 'Aiea coach Wendell Say said. "Their play inspired everybody. They kept me going."

Say knew going in that the Lunas (6-4) ate up the clock with their run game, which concerned him.

"This team, they run the ball, run the ball, so time disappears fast," he said. "That was our fear, that if we didn't sustain drives, we would be in big trouble. Defense kept us in there. We did enough to come out ahead."

'Aiea, which led 7-6 at the half, scored on a 10-yard run by quarterback Chucky Kaahanui to go up by a touchdown with 2:55 remaining in the fourth quarter. 'Aiea's scoring drive followed a Lahainaluna fumble recovery by Kaahanui one play after he threw an interception.

"If you don't take care of the ball, you can't win," Lahainaluna co-head coach Garret Tihada said. "Bad timing; we get a turnover and we're on an emotional high and we give it right back."

Nä Ali'i promoted center Tuafale Faatoafe from the junior varsity, and Kaahanui was having problems with the snaps. But he took advantage of it on his second touchdown.

"The coaches told me if the snap is on the ground, just pick it up and follow the play," Kaahanui said. "It was a bad snap and I was supposed to hand off, but the running back already knew to just go. And that's what happened."

'Aiea missed the point-after, keeping the Lunas within a touchdown. The Lunas responded on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Todd Rickard Jr. to Pau'la Toa with 1:19 left to close to 13-12. Lahainaluna's extra-point attempt was blocked by senior linebacker Eric Badoyen.

'Aiea running back Anae Vaa added insurance with a 43-yard touchdown run with 20.8 seconds remaining. Junior Nicholas Hiraoka's kick made it 20-12.

At first, Lahainaluna won the turnover battle. The Lunas recovered a high snap on 'Aiea's first play of the game. Lahainaluna recovered the ball on the Nä Ali'i 19 and seven plays later scored on a 1-yard run by running back Jostin Carbajal at the 6:26 mark. Lahainaluna missed its extra-point attempt.

'Aiea evened the score on a scrambling, 32-yard run by Kaahanui with 5:37 left in the second quarter. Hiraoka's kick made it 7-6.

"Any time you play a good team like 'Aiea you can't afford to turn the ball over, can't afford to make mistakes," Tihada said. "And we just made too much mistakes tonight."

LAHAINALUNA (6-4) 6 0 0 6—12

'AIEA (9-3) 0 7 0 13—20

LAHA — Jostin Carbajal 1 run (kick failed)
'AIEA — Chucky Kaahanui 32 run (Nicholas Hiraoka kick) AIEA — Kaahanui 10 run (kick failed)
LANA – Pau'la Toa 27 pass from Todd Rickard, Jr. (kick blocked)
'AIEA — Anae Vaa 43 run (Hiraoka kick)
RUSHING — Lahainaluna: Daven Kaina 9-24, Rickard, Jr. 11-31, George Chihara 2-13, Joseph Hildago 3-(minus 1), Carbajal 6-(minus 9), Imihana Ampong 2-5, Teanu Rickard 1-2, Toa 1-(minus 1). 'Aiea: Kaahanui 12-67, Otto-Titan Salausa 6-19, Vaa 8-67, Matt Faalele 1-(minus 1), Douglas Tautua 1-6. PASSING — Lahainaluna: Rickard, Jr. 7-14-2–106. 'Aiea: Kaahanui 11-21-1–68, RECEIVING — Lahainaluna: Ampong 1-13, Carbajal 2-17, Hildago 1-26, Chihara 1-9, Toa 1-27, Zachary Corpuel 1-14. 'Aiea: Kekoa Thompson 7-35, Michael Williams 1-8, Freddy Taliuli 1-0, Salausa 1-3, Faalele1-22.