West Virginia 69, Marshall 34: Geno Smith threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns as the Mountaineers kicked off the 2012 season with a one-sided win over visiting Marshall.

It was a fitting opener for West Virginia, which closed out the 2011 campaign by hanging 70 points on Clemson in the Orange Bowl.

Smith, who went 32-for-36 on the day, surpassed Marc Bulger as West Virginia’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns (60). He added 65 rushing yards and a score.

Stedman Bailey finished with nine catches for 104 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the rout, while Shawne Alston led the running attack with 123 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.

Sophomore quarterback Rakeem Cato was 38-of-54 for a career-high 413 yards and two touchdowns for Marshall but also turned the ball over twice as the Herd fell to a ranked opponent for the 14th consecutive time. Travon Van managed a pair of touchdown runs for Marshall in the loss.

Smith hit Stedman Bailey on a 32-yard touchdown pass to cap a 5-of-5, 53-yard performance on the opening drive of the game. Marshall showed a consistent willingness to battle back, but No. 11 West Virginia had an answer for nearly every Thundering Herd push.

Prior to a drive that stalled at midfield under Mountaineers’ backup quarterback Paul Millard with 6:25 to play, every single Marshall score in the game had been met with a West Virginia touchdown on the ensuing drive.

GAME NOTEBOOK: West Virginia remains unbeaten against Marshall, now 12-0 in the all-time series … Marshall right tackle Garrett Scott was carted off in the second quarter after an apparent leg injury and did not return ... The win marked the ninth consecutive victorious home opener for the Mountaineers, who improved to 11-3 overall under second-year head coach Dana Holgorsen.