WATCH: Grant Wells scores 18-yard rushing touchdown in first score of Brent Pry era

Virginia Tech quarterback Grant Wells kicked off the Brent Pry era with a bang in Norfolk, Virginia tonight. The transfer from Marshall ran a zone-read play, kept the ball, and scampered 18 yards untouched to the end zone for the touchdown. The score put the Hokies up 7-0 with 9:12 remaining in the first quarter of their Friday night matchup with the Old Dominion Monarchs.

Check it out here.

Grant Wells scampers 18 yards for the first #Hokies touchdown of the season!@HokiesFB | #ACCFootball

📺 ESPNU pic.twitter.com/C36Feuj3DJ

— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) September 2, 2022

The touchdown was the very first score of the Brent Pry era for the Virginia Tech program. The Hokies are looking for a different outcome this time than four years ago when they last faced ODU in 2018. The Monarchs stunned 13th ranked Virginia Tech 49-35 in one of the biggest wins in ODU football history.

Friday night’s game is being televised on ESPNU. Wells has thrown two interceptions in the first half. Virginia Tech currently leads 7-3 with under five minutes remaining in the second quarter.

He transferred to Virginia Tech after two seasons at Marshall. With the Thundering Herd, his passing ability was on display early and often as he won the starting position in his redshirt freshman year. In the 2020 season, Wells started in 10 games completing 160 of his 270 pass attempts for 2,091 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions. That performance was good enough to earn him Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors. The following year, Wells threw for 3,532 yards, but regressed in his touchdown to interception ratio, throwing 16 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Both seasons with Wells at the helm, Marshall was able to secure a bowl bid. However, unfortunately for them, the team came up short in both bowl games.

According to the On3 Consensus Rankings for the 2019 cycle, Wells was ranked as the No. 104 quarterback in America and a three-star prospect. He played his high school football for George Washington High School (Charleston, West Virginia).

On3’s Justin Rudolph also contributed to this article.