News Story - Idaho State Journal

Malad 26, Declo 22

DECLO -- The Malad football team overcame a turnover-laden second quarter to beat 2A Declo, 26-22, on Friday at Declo.

Senior Braiden Jones scored the winning touchdown with about a minute and a half to go in the fourth quarter, capping a drive he set up with an interception minutes earlier.

Jones scored twice in the game and rushed for a team-high 49 yards. Quarterback Kaden Goddard completed 9-of-14 passes for 128 yards and three touchdowns plus one interception.

The interception was a costly one, and it was part of a second quarter that nearly doomed the 2A Dragons. The Dragons turned over the ball on their first three possessions of the stanza, helping Declo quickly seize a 22-6 lead. That was the score heading into halfitme.

"The second quarter couldn't have gone any worse," said Malad coach McKay Young. "We weren't happy with all the mental errors but we felt confident athletically we'd be fine. Just do our thing and not make mistakes."

Trailing 22-20, Malad took over at midfield after Jones' fourth-quarter interception and drove the rest of the way for a score. The drive included five Goddard runs that went for 26 yards. A 22-yard pass to Jade Clark set up the winning score.

Now 3-0, Malad hosts 3A Bear Lake next week.

West Jefferson 46, Soda Springs 0

TERRETON -- Senior Kurtis Allen ran for 89 yards in Soda Springs' 46-0 loss at West Jefferson on Friday in Terreton.

Preston McCulloch powered West Jefferson -- the defending 2A state champions -- with 257 rushing yards on 23 carries. He scored on touchdown runs of eight and 59 yards. Teammate Spencer Scott carried five times for 37 yards and two more touchdowns.

"We're struggling to come up with somebody to run the ball for us," said Soda Springs assistant coach Scott Gambles. "We're having trouble getting any continuity in our offense."

Soda Springs is starting many younger players this season, and Gamble said that inexperience is showing. Still, he was hopeful the Cardinals (0-4) could pick up a win when 2A Fifth District rival West Side (2-2) visits Soda Springs next week.

"We're just a young bunch," Gambles said. "We've got a lot of inexperience. But the kids are working hard."

This document was originally published online on Saturday, September 20, 2008

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