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November 25, 2009

Parnell is back in regions, with new team

By BRIAN WOODSON

RICHLANDS, Va. — Richlands already has one loss to Cave Spring. Of course, that was a different style of football.

“That was 7-on-7, and there’s pads now,” Richlands senior running back Cody Parnell said.

Last year at this time, Parnell was in a Tazewell uniform, preparing to take on Richlands in the Region IV, Division 3 championship game, won in overtime by the Blue Tornado 28-27.

Even before then, Parnell had decided to make a change.

“I was just wanting to move to a better team, I wanted to make it further,” Parnell said. “I just decided to move a little bit before the region championship last year.

“I wasn’t happy with some decisions so I just moved on down and I got down here and everybody accepted me well.”

Parnell is one of seven transfers who joined the Richlands football team this season. He didn’t struggle much with the thought of switching sides on what is one of the area’s longest-running rivalries.

“I was ready to roll. I came on down here, I liked the coaching staff and all the players,” Parnell said. “I just wanted to get a new start. I know it was my senior year, but I really wasn’t going anywhere at Tazewell.”

After starting a few games at cornerback last season for Tazewell, Parnell is strictly a backup running back at Richlands, while also contributing seven tackles on special teams.

Parnell’s lone touchdown this season came against Tazewell, but he didn’t see any extra significance in that game.

“It was just another game, just like the rest of them,” said the 5-foot-9, 175-pound Parnell. “I was ready for it...

“It was almost like surreal. I thought there for a while we were going to end up having to play Tazewell again in the playoffs.”

The 5-foot-9, 175-pound Parnell serves as Devon Johnson’s backup at running back, having dashed for 167 yards and a touchdown, and he’s also caught a pair of passes for 24 yards.

“I like it here, I think we all mixed in pretty well,” said Parnell, of the transfers that blended in with the holdovers at Richlands. “We came down and it was like we never even missed a beat.

“We all jelled in together, we’re all down here for the same thing. We all want to win a state championship, that’s our main goal.”

Cave Spring stands in the way. Parnell learned about the Knights prior to this season when the Blue Tornado participated in a 7-on-7 passing camp in Galax.

“I’ve heard it ever since 7-on-7 this summer, we played them in 7-on-7 at Galax,” Parnell said. “That’s all anybody has been talking about is Cave Spring and Richlands. I believe we’ll be all right though.”

Richlands (10-1) will take on Cave Spring (9-2) in Friday’s Region IV, Division 3 championship game.

Parnell remembers the result of that game back in the summer, but it certainly doesn’t matter now.

“We did pretty good, we only lost one or two games all summer long and one of them was to Cave Spring in a semifinal game down at Galax,” Parnell said. “We lost to them by a touchdown, we were tied with them in the semifinals and then they ended up beating us.”

The Blue Tornado will have to hit the road for Friday’s game, but road trips are never an issue at Richlands. That’s because half the town — or more — will be along for the venture.

“We’re just going to have to come out and play Richlands football for four quarters,” Parnell said. “I know everybody has been talking that it’s going to be a long road trip, but we’re just going to have to not let that overcome us and just go down there and do what we have to do.”

Richlands (10-1) advanced to this point with a 31-10 win over Marion, but the Blues led just 10-7 at the break. Parnell said a slow start won’t bode well against the high-powered Knights (9-2), which hammered Graham 42-0 last week.

“We’re going to have to come out and play four quarters this time,” Parnell said. “We’re not going to be able to come out in the second half, we’ve got to start off with that mentality right off the bat.”

Parnell has one goal, as do the rest of the Blues. Win, and move on.

“I like to win a game and keep on moving and take it one game at a time,” Parnell said. “I’m glad to be in the playoffs deeper than I was last year.

“We’re starting to roll on, and hopefully we’ll get a ring on our fingers.”

—Contact Brian Woodson

at bwoodson@bdtonline.com

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