Forty-eight minutes wasn’t enough to determine 4A Southern Idaho Conference supremacy.

One overtime could not separate Middleton and Bishop Kelly, either.

Only when Bowen Ogata’s fourth-down pass to Turner Simmons sailed out of the end zone could Middleton finally celebrate a rousing, 42-36 victory in double-overtime Friday at Nick Ysursa Field.

At least for one night, the Vikings are top dogs in the 4A SIC.

“We slugged it out,” said Middleton tailback Victor Dias, who rushed for 194 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Vikings. “It was intense and it was awesome. This is what high school football is all about.”

Middleton (6-1, 6-0 4A SIC) rushed for 345 yards and was in control for most of the game, leading 21-7 at halftime and 28-14 after three quarters.

But Bishop Kelly (6-1, 5-1) mounted a rally. Andrew Spangler scored on a 1-yard run with 6:28 remaining to make it 28-21. Middleton nearly ran out the clock but finally was forced to punt, which ended in disaster when the snap sailed over the punter’s head and was recovered by BK’s Neal Murphy at the Middleton 7.

Spangler (119 rushing yards, two TDs) punched it in on the next play, tying the game with 50 seconds left.

“I’m so proud of our kids,” Middleton coach Bill Brock said. “Things didn’t always go our way, but the kids dug deep and persevered. They just played with heart and an unbelievable will to win.”

That will was tested in the first overtime when Simmons (nine catches, 172 yards, two TDs) hauled in a 10-yard TD pass from Ogata on the opening play. The Knights added a clever two-point conversion for a 36-28 lead.

But Middleton would not be denied. Dias powered in on fourth-and-goal from the 1, and then scored the tying two-point conversion.

Max Foote (98 rushing yards, three TDs) carried two defenders into the end zone on the first play of the second OT, giving the Vikings a 42-36 lead. The Vikings missed the conversion, but the Middleton defense held Bishop Kelly out of the end zone — barely — on the fourth-down incompletion from the 4.

“Just an unbelievable game,” Brock said. “It’s a shame one team had to come out on the short end of it. Bishop Kelly’s a great team, and we feel blessed.”