POCATELLO - The Declo Hornets know what it feels like to lose a state playoff game in overtime. They weren't about to let it happen again.

No. 1-ranked and undefeated Declo survived a 40-34 double-overtime thriller over Malad in the Class 2A state football quarterfinals at Holt Arena Friday night.

Declo squandered a 14-point fourth-quarter lead and Malad scored the game-tying touchdown with 59 seconds remaining in regulation on a fourth-and-goal pass play from the 12-yard line.

"I was disappointed that we let go of the big lead that we had," said Declo quarterback and safety Jeremy Jenkins. "But I knew we would get the job done (in overtime)."

Malad got the ball to start the first overtime. Caleb Bennett scored a 3-yard touchdown on fourth down, but the Dragons were called for a delay of game before the extra-point try, pushing them back five yards. Kicker Jordan Schwartz missed.

On Declo's possession, Brandon Peterson hauled in a 6-yard touchdown pass from Jeremy Jenkins on fourth down, but Coby Stebbins' kick was blocked, sending the game into a second overtime.

Declo went first, and Tyler Briggs pounded in a 3-yard score. The two-point conversion run failed, leaving the Hornets up by just six.

On Malad's fourth down, quarterback Kaden Goddard threw to the back of the end zone, but the pass was broken up by Logan Knopp and Declo celebrated its second consecutive trip to the state semifinals.

"My first thought when it went into overtime was, we have experience with this," said Declo coach Kelly Kidd, referring to the Hornets' one-point overtime loss to Parma in last year's state championship.

The Hornets face the winner of today's Kamiah-New Plymouth quarterfinal game. Game date, time and location are yet to be determined, but Declo will be the designated road team.

"We never give up," Jenkins said. "We keep playing until the final whistle and that's why we came out on top tonight. Malad kids played a great game, too."

Declo had control early, riding its workhorse running backs Briggs and Larsen Webb, while Jenkins completed 9 of 16 passes for 103 yards and accounted for three touchdowns in regulation.

But the Hornets lost key players on both sides of the ball early in the first quarter, linebacker Mark Knobbe and lineman Jared Patterson. The extent of their injuries and their availability moving forward in the playoffs is uncertain.

Stebbins filled in at linebacker and Blake Taylor and Brandon Hurst stepped in on the offensive line.

"The second-string guys, they're not far off with their skill level and they stepped up and had a heck of a game. If a key player goes down, we've still got back-ups," said Drew Matsen.

Malad put up a good fight, led by its 1,000-yard rusher Caleb Bennett and 1,000-yard passer Kaden Goddard. The 28 points in regulation were the most scored on Declo this season.

The Hornets successfully moved the chains in the first half with hard-nosed running by Briggs and three pass hook-ups from Jenkins to Knopp.

Meanwhile, Malad was hindered by four first-half holding penalties. Still, the Dragons managed a pair of touchdowns and trailed the Hornets by a slim 20-14 score at halftime.

Malad went to its bag of tricks early, executing a reverse-pass on its first play from scrimmage. The play went for 58 yards and set up the Dragons' first score as Jordan Hansen caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Goddard.

Declo answered right back on its first possession. The Hornets drove 66 yards in seven plays, capped by Webb's 28-yard burst up the middle for a score.

Soon after, a Goddard pass was tipped and Jenkins tracked it down for the interception. Ten plays later, Jenkins ran a quarterback sweep to the right side, reached for the pylon and scored to put Declo up 14-7.

After Declo turned it over on downs, Malad got the ball at Declo's 46 yard line, setting up the Dragons' next scoring drive. Goddard ran it in from 18 yards out to knot the score 14-14.

The Hornets extended their lead to 28-14 in the third quarter when Knopp made a fingertip catch at his shoestrings for a 35-yard touchdown from Jenkins.

"Having this close game was good for us, we needed it," said Matsen. "It just shows that if someone wants to play with us, we'll play with them back."

Declo 40, Malad 34, 2 OT

Malad 7 7 0 7 6 0- 28

Declo 7 13 8 0 6 6 - 28

First quarter

Malad - Jordan Hansen 19 pass from Kaden Goddard (Jordan Schwartz kick) 9:18

Declo - Larsen Webb 28 run (Coby Stebbins kick) 6:04

Second quarter

D - Jeremy Jenkins 7 run (Stebbins kick) 11:13

M - Goddard 18 run (Schwartz kick) 4:35

D - Jenkins 11 run (kick failed) 1:04

Third quarter

D - Logan Knopp 35 pass from Jenkins (Brogan Thoren pass from Jenkins) 3:07

Fourth quarter

M - Goddard 11 run (Schwartz kick) 10:06

M - Hansen 12 pass from Goddard (Schwartz kick) 0:59

First overtime

M - Bennett 3 run (kick failed)

D - Brandon Peterson 6 pass from Jenkins (kick failed)

Second overtime

D - Tyler Briggs 1 run (run failed)