It wasn’t exactly the way a team coming off a losing season wanted the year to start, but it didn't matter as North Carolina State hammered Western Carolina 48-7 on Saturday in the season opener for both schools.

Western Carolina, a Football Championship Subdivision team, scored the first touchdown of the game when Zack Jaynes connected with Deja Alexander on a 23-yard score.
The lead was short-lived as the Wolfpack defense controlled the rest of the game. Western Carolina was limited to 11 first downs and 195 total yards. NC State, which went 5-7 last season, did what it wanted on offense, totaling 484 yards of offense, led by quarterback Russell Wilson.

By the end of the first quarter, NC State was back in the lead after Wilson twice connected with receiver T.J. Graham for a 14-7. The Wolfpack led 31-7 at the half.
Wilson finished 13 of 19 for 207 yards and four touchdowns with Graham, who had six catches for 98 yards, as his main target.