Photo by Jake McNeill: Marshall defensive end Cannon Craigmile (11) celebrates with teammate Jayden Meister after Craigmile came away with an interception at the line of scrimmage in the first quarter of the Marshall football team's matchup against Hutchinson on Friday at Mattke Field. The Marshall Tigers defeated the Hutchinson Tigers 49-6 to remain undefeated on the season.

This story will be updated with stats and quotes

MARSHALL — In a battle of two teams that have met in the Section 2AAAA championship game three years in a row, the No. 2 Marshall football team appeared to be a class above Hutchinson on Friday. The Marshall Tigers scored two touchdowns in the first five minutes of play and never looked back, cruising to a 49-6 victory to remain undefeated on the season.

Hutchinson caught Marshall off guard to start the game, recovering an onside attempt on the opening kickoff to take over at the 49-yard line. Yet, the Tiger defensive front buckled down and forced a turnover on downs.

Marshall took advantage of the field position immediately. JR Vierstraete hauled in a 31-yard contested catch to start the drive, and consecutive first-down runs by Andrew Stelter and Milo Swenson kept the chains moving to the 6-yard line. From there, Stelter jumped a low tackler before rumbling into the end zone for the game’s first touchdown four minutes in.

Cannon Craigmile gave the Tigers the ball back just two plays later, jumping up to make an interception at the line of scrimmage to give Marshall the ball back in Hutchinson territory. Swenson and Stelter again moved the chains into the red-zone with a run and a 13-yard swing pass, and this time it was Swenson’s turn to cross the plain for a nine-yard touchdown and a two-touchdown lead.

The visiting Tigers got on the board with a minute left in the first quarter, converting three fourth-down conversions before Hanley Neumann took a ball on a sweep to the right for a nine-yard touchdown.

Marshall stopped the 2-point conversion to keep their lead at 8 points and quickly re-extended their lead. On the next play from scrimmage, Levi Maeyaert found Logan Eickhoff wide open down the seam, and Eickhoff coasted another 31 yards after the catch for a 62-yard touchdown.

The hometown Tigers continued to pile onto their lead as the half progressed. Marshall faced a third-and-14 from the shadow of their own end zone before a defensive pass interference call on a pass intended for Craigmile moved the chains, and Marshall continued to advance before Stelter broke off a 44-yard touchdown run along the right sideline to bring the lead to 22 points.

Hutchinson attempted its first punt late in the first half, but a fumbled snap gave Marshall possession at the Hutchinson 45 and JR Vierstraete jumped up to make a catch on an out route, shed the would-be tackler, and took the catch another 20 yards to the house for a 45-yard touchdown.

Another defensive stop and a designed run by Craigmile helped Marshall advance the ball to the Hutchinson 37 on their next possession. Ethan Boeck slid backwards to make a grab for a 26-yard gain with 25 seconds before the half, and the Tigers got the ball to Boeck again on the next play for a touchdown and a 42-6 halftime lead.

Shep Jensen came down with Marshall’s second interception of the night on Hutchinson’s first possession of the second half, catching a pass that sailed high near the Marshall 32 and returned it to midfield.

Milo Swenson immediately broke off a run between the tackles for a 25-yard gain, cutting the field in half, and broke off another 23 yards on the next two carries to set up second-and-goal at the 2. He was stuffed on the next two plays to set up fourth-and-goal from the 1, but Maeyaert converted the QB sneak on fourth to bring the lead to 49-6 at the midway mark of the third quarter.

Hutchinson started to drive late in the third quarter, but Ethan Weedman caught an interception in stride like a wide receiver with four minutes left to give Marshall the ball back at its own 16-yard line.

After taking over on Weedman’s pick, Marshall started to work in its reserves. Magnus Schlenner took over at quarterback and the Tigers reaped the benefit of running clock in the fourth quarter. Sam Meier broke off a 21-yard gain to get the team moving on the drive, took another pitch for eight yards on the next play

Hutchinson was driving late in the fourth quarter, working its way to the Marshall 7-yard line, but Rocco Rignell leaps up to pick off a fade to the back of the end zone and effectively ice the game.

Marshall improves to 4-0 on the season with the win and will look to carry its momentum onto the road next wek, taking on Delano (2-1) on Friday at 7 p.m.