STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Another season opener, another milestone win for Joe Paterno.

Evan Royster ran for three touchdowns and Derrick Williams had an 89-yard kickoff return for another score as Paterno tied Bobby Bowden atop the career list for major college coaches in No. 22 Penn State's 66-10 rout of Coastal Carolina on Saturday.

JoePa, who opened his record 43rd season on the sideline, now has 373 career victories, just like Bowden, his good friend from Florida State. The Seminoles start their season next week.

Hands on hips, pacing the sideline in his traditional gameday attire of khakis and black sneakers, Paterno couldn't keep still, even in a blowout win over an overmatched Championship Subdivision team.

He had reasons for concern early, if only briefly.

Penn State's defensive line was too quick and strong for Coastal Carolina, so the Chanticleers countered with quick, short passes and a no-huddle offense.

Quarterback Zach MacDowell did a good job early stepping up in the pocket to escape pressure, and there were audible gasps in sold-out Beaver Stadium when he found Trent Usher open on a crossing pattern for a 33-yard touchdown pass to get the Chanticleers within 14-7 with 13:38 left in the second quarter.

That was big news for a giddy Coastal Carolina team playing its first game against a Bowl Subdivision school. Coach David Bennett had joked earlier in the week that he hoped his team wouldn't be "obliterated" by halftime.

Unfortunately for him, the Nittany Lions then started pouring on the points.

Williams returned the ensuing kickoff for an 89-yard touchdown to give Penn State a 21-7 lead. The senior captain skipped away from E.J. Brown's tackle at midfield before running untouched into the end zone, pointing his left index finger high into the air.

Penn State held the Chanticleers to a three-and-out on the next possession before quarterback Daryll Clark hit a wide-open Jordan Norwood backpedaling in the end zone for a five-yard TD pass and a 28-7 lead.

Clark, in his debut as Penn State's starting QB, was 11-of-14 passing for 146 yards and the TD in limited action. Royster finished with 64 yards on eight carries, while promising redshirt freshman Stephfon Green ran for 89 yards and two scores on 10 carries in his collegiate debut.

Coastal Carolina was outgained 594-250 on the day, though there some bright spots for the Chanticleers.

MacDowell alternated at quarterback with starter William Richardson in the game and finished 5-of-9 passing 67 yards and an interception. Usher had three catches for 50 yards.

It was the easy opening win that Nittany Lions fans expected in what could be Paterno's last year on the sideline. This is the last year of JoePa's contract, and he and school administrators have tabled talks about his future until after the season.

Both sides have also said that Paterno doesn't need something in writing to keep coaching.