Fixing Virginia Tech’s offense will be a long-term task.

The bleak assessment came in a 33-10 loss to a packed crowd at Lane Stadium, where Virginia Tech led a season-low in points and total yards (228) in the opening kickoff. Instead of capitalizing on that power, the Hokies managed just 35 rushing yards, their fewest since 2015.

Pry’s comments served as a stark reminder of how much Virginia Tech (2-2, 1-0 ACC) needs to adjust to break out of years of offensive decay.

Virginia Tech faded in the second half of its loss to West Virginia.

Heading into Saturday night’s game against North Carolina (3-1, 0-0) at Kenan Stadium, the Hokies have had six players take the stadium at some point in the past three years, showing a highly influential lack of continuity. Position on the field.

Virginia Tech, meanwhile, ranks 12th out of 14 schools in the ACC in both total offense (330 yards per game) and scoring (20.3 points per game).

Grant Wells, the starting quarterback this season, has completed 79 of 131 attempts for 844 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions in four games. He was 16 for 35 for 193 yards, one touchdown and one interception against the Mountaineers.

Wells’ interception gave West Virginia its final score of the game as Jacolby Spells took the ball 27 yards into the end zone with 9:36 to play in the fourth quarter, sending fans into a frenzy.

Wales also missed a handful of deep passes to their teammates in the first half to turn the game around and take the Black Diamond Cup.

“I think we’re going to continue to grow and learn until the last game of the season,” Wells said. “Everybody is learning how. [first-year offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen] He loves to call plays, and that continues all year. Obviously, we learned from our mistakes from game to game.

The redshirt junior transfer won the starting job from Marshall, who was named Conference USA first team and freshman of the year, after competing with South Carolina transfer Jason Brown in spring practice and preseason camp.

Pry didn’t hint at a quarterback change this week, which suggests Wells played well enough in spots to win if he didn’t commit 15 penalties for 132 yards or other mental errors. Critical moments.

It’s also clear that Wells was more comfortable running the offense during the spring and camp, where he got plenty of separation on Brown, forcing Pry and Bowen to name him the unconditional starter.

“It’s what you’re investing in, what you believe in, snap after snap,” Pry said. “We’re still a work in progress in that area, and the most important thing is that we learn from each and every situation and grow to be a more mature football team.”

The bigger concern facing the Tar Heels is if Virginia Tech can get its rushing attack in gear. The Hokies ranked second-to-last in the ACC in rushing this season, averaging 112 yards per game and 3.1 yards per carry with four touchdowns.

College football’s best bet: Kentucky could keep pace with Mississippi.

Redshirt junior Keshawn King, who started one game last year, leads Virginia Tech with 179 yards and 29 touchdowns. Jalen Holston has 144 yards and a team-high two rushing touchdowns on 45 attempts and Wells is next with 81 yards and 26 touchdowns.

The running back could be closer to Malachi Thomas, who is set to join the division after missing the first four games with a foot injury. Thomas, a sophomore, is the Hokies’ leading rusher from last season (440 yards, three touchdowns, 93 carries) among players on the current roster.

“He’s working harder,” said Pry, who suggested the expected rain in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Saturday, doesn’t look at whether Thomas will play. “We have to make a decision by [Thursday] If we ride him in the morning and ride this thing until game day, he looks much, much better.