Photo courtesy of Fritz Busch/New Ulm Journal Marshall running back DeMario Gaines follows blocks against a host of New Ulm defenders on Saturday at New Ulm High School.

NEW ULM — Marshall scored touchdowns on three of its first four possessions as the Tigers downed the New Ulm Eagles 49-16 Saturday at New Ulm High School.

Tigers’ quarterback Brevin Ruina threw three touchdown passes to wide receiver Bryce Lance of 36, 20 and 57 yards and also fired an 25-yard scoring pass to Chidi Nwakama.

Cole Ranweiler and Brayden Geariety scored the Eagles’ touchdowns with Ranweiler’s coming on a 77-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Geariety’s touchdown came on a 19-yard pass from Isaiah Miller.

Ranweiler ran in a 2-point conversion and Ethan Stade caught a 2-point conversion pass from Miler.

Marshall grabbed a 21-0 first quarter lead before the Eagles, who play at Worthington next Friday, got on the board early in the second quarter when senior Cole Ranweiler broke loose down the right sidelines for a 77-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 21-8.

But the Tigers came right back when Chidi Nwakama scampered 58 yards for a touchdown and a 28-8 lead.

A 57-yard pass from Ruina to Lance gave Marshall a 35-8 lead at halftime.

The Eagles used a nine-play, 81-yard drive to cut the lead to 35-16 when Miller hooked up with Geariety from 19 yards out midway through the third quarter before Marshall closed it out with a pair of scores.

Marshall 49, New Ulm 16

Marshall 21 14 7 7 — 49

New Ulm 0 8 8 0 — 16

SCORING PLAYS

First Quarter

Marshall: Lance 32 yd pass from Runia (Kick no good).

Marshall: Gaines 6 yd run (Gaines run).

Marshall: Lance 19 yd pass from Runia (Celedon kick).

Second Quarter

New Ulm: Ranweiler 77 yd run (2-pt. conversion good).

Marshall: Nwakama 57 yd run (Legatt kick).

Marshall: Lance 57 yd pass from Runia (Legatt kick).

Third Quarter

New Ulm: Geariety 19 yd pass from Miller (2-pt. conversion good).

Marshall: Runia 7 yd run (Celedon kick).

Fourth Quarter

Marshall: Nwakama 27 yd pass from Runia (Legatt kick).

Individual stats

Passing (Cp-Att-Yds-TD-Int): Marshall (Runia 8-13-182-4-0); New Ulm (Miller 5-8-71-1-2).

Rushing (Att-Yds-TD): Marshall (Gaines 10-96-1; Nwakama 4-91-1; Runia 6-80-1); New Ulm (Ranweiler 34-168-1).

Receiving (Rec-Yds-TD): Marshall (Lance 6-140-3; Nwakama 1-27-1; Bly 1-15); New Ulm (Geariety 5-71-1).

Defense (Tkl-Int): Marshall (Louwagie 12.5-0; Runia 4-0; Bly 4-0; Toulouse 3-1; Fogelson 3-0; Gaines 2.5-0; Walerius 2.5-0; Myhrberg 2.5-0; Fenger 2.5-0; Lance 1.5-1; Thordson 1-0; Nwakama 1-0; Maeyaert 1-0; Hasert 1-0; Wallen 1-0; Vierstraete 1-0); New Ulm (NR).