BLACKSBURG, Va. -- David Wilson was only kidding earlier in the week when, after learning he would get the ball on Virginia Tech's first offensive play, he said the team wouldn't need a second play.

Turned out, he was right.

Wilson ran 20 yards almost untouched for a touchdown on Virginia Tech's first offensive play, giving the No. 13 Hokies a quick lead on their way to a 66-13 victory against Appalachian State.

"He told me I was getting the first carry and I told him I didn't have to hear the second play because I was taking it to the grid," Wilson said of running backs coach Shane Beamer.

"But I didn't think that would really happen."

The touchdown was the first of three in the first half for the junior, his first game as the Hokies' starting tailback, and he finished with 162 yards on just 16 carries.

"That's the way to start the season off," he said.

Logan Thomas also was efficient in his first game as Tech's quarterback, throwing the first two touchdown passes of his career, and the Hokies' defense shut down the Mountaineers.

Appalachian State was outgained 291-61 in the first half before both teams began substituting freely.

The Hokies, who honored coach Frank Beamer before the game for entering into his 25th season as the head coach and then announced at halftime that he's signed a contract extension to keep him on the job through 2016, made sure he got his first season-opening victory in four years.

"A few more days like this and I'll have a few more years after that," Beamer said.

Wilson scored on runs of 20, 19 and 3 yards -- the first just 47 seconds into the game after Antone Exom recovered a fumble by Mountaineers quarterback DeAndre Presley at the 20.