HONAKER, Va. – It was a familiar sequence that stirred the spectators clad in orange-and-black, brought a smile to head coach Todd Tiller’s face, invoked a sense of dread in defensive backs and was seemingly second nature to the main principles involved.
Honaker High School quarterback Peyton Musick would take the snap, drop back amid the oncoming swarm of defenders and zip a pinpoint pass to Parker Bandy and watch his reliable wide receiver go to work.
Bandy-from-Musick.
Musick-to-Bandy.
No. 4 hauling in a momentum-shifting, chain-moving, game-changing toss from No. 1.
They were always on the same page and as a result rewrote Honaker’s record book in terms of aerial production.
The connection between Musick and Bandy didn’t magically materialize but took countless hours of practice.
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Of course, they gathered practically every day in the spring and summer on the turf of Honaker’s Fuller Field and ran pattern after pattern after pattern.
On many occasions they’d stay after practice to fine-tune certain plays, making sure they were just right.
They studied film together and shared observations of what they saw on the screen.
“A good QB to wide receiver relationship is everything,” Musick said. “It helps that we are best friends, and we are close already. We also share the same love for the game and both grind as hard as possible to reach our best. He puts his heart on the line for the game.”
Yet, perhaps the best example of the extent to which Musick and Bandy dedicated themselves to becoming a dynamic duo on the gridiron came when they went on vacation.
There were those two spring-break trips to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
The summer excursion to Navarre, Florida.
They didn’t take a break from flinging the football, however.
While the college kids nursed hangovers, the sand wasn’t yet cluttered with beach chairs or covered in beach towels, before the bikini-clad babes arrived and the sun wasn’t yet scorching, there were Musick and Bandy.
In anonymity, a long way from Southwest Virginia, they ran through those slants, posts, curls, hitches, long bombs as the waves crashed on the shore nearby. In Florida they even found a gym to pump some iron.
They couldn’t forego their pigskin procedures in paradise.
After all, their favorite destination was the end zone and all that repetition resulted in reaping the rewards. Their own type of frequent flyer miles.
On Honaker’s first offensive play of the 2023 season against archrival Lebanon, Bandy hauled in a 55-yard touchdown pass from Musick.
“Being a good receiver takes a lot of things into account for me,” Bandy said. “I think it is about understanding the offense, running perfect routes and lastly, always being on the same page with the QB. Also, after you catch the ball, you need to be able to make plays and that is what I felt like I improved on most my junior to senior year.”
Nobody did it better than Bandy back in the fall as he caught 100 passes for 1,433 yards and 20 touchdowns during his senior season and his prodigious pass-catching exploits earned him 2023 Bristol Herald Courier offensive player of the year honors.
Keep in mind that he could have been in the running for defensive player of the year accolades too as he snagged nine interceptions in the secondary and was a VHSL Class 1 first-team all-state pick on offense and defense.
“The 2023 season was a blast,” Bandy said. “So many great memories and bonds were made throughout the year, and I will never forget it. I couldn’t have asked for a better season.”
When it was all said and done, Bandy established single-season program records for catches, receiving yards, TD catches and interceptions.
His career totals in touchdown grabs (33), total catches (146), receiving yards (2,295) and INTs (20) are also school records.
It was certainly no day at the beach for opposing coaches and defensive coordinators when Bandy had the ball in his hands.
“His combination of speed, quickness and overall football IQ,” Chilhowie coach Reid Sturgill said. “He was a playmaker in every scenario. … There was a variety of ways Bandy could beat you. He was tough to defend in the screen game, as well as down the field. Any reception for him could be an explosive play.”
***
The most explosive play on Bandy’s highlight reel occurred in a second-round playoff game against the Patrick Henry Rebels.
Honaker trailed 22-8 with around 25 seconds remaining until halftime and had the ball at its own 38-yard line.
For many teams that might seem hopeless.
For the Tigers and their quick-strike, high-powered Air Raid offense – which averaged 44.5 points per game – it was doable.
Bandy hauled in a 38-yard strike to get the Tigers past midfield.
“We came out in like a quad formation, and I was singled up wide right,” Bandy said. “Well, when we did that, they doubled me, so Peyton knew it and I knew, so he checked me to a post. I cut between the safety and the corner guarding me and ran it pretty short, because I had to get open quick to save time. He hit me in stride and I broke a few tackles.”
After Bandy was brought down, Honaker called a timeout.
What happened next was perhaps the most dynamic moment of the season for the Tigers, and they had a lot of those.
“I ran a deep crosser and split the safeties,” Bandy said. “In my head I knew I needed to get down, but I ended up stiff-arming one safety and juked around [tight end] Malachi [Lowe] blocking the other guy and scored with no time left in the half.”
At one point in the film, eight PH defenders are in the frame and none of them bring Bandy down as he raced to the end zone for a defining 24-yard score.
“Without that TD,” said Honaker coach Todd Tiller. “We may not pull that game out.”
Bandy finished with 10 catches for 191 yards and three TDs as Honaker rallied for a 44-30 triumph.
Tiller called it one of the best performances he’d ever seen by a wide receiver.
Bandy made the tough plays look easy.
“There were several times that we knew the ball was going in his direction,” said Rural Retreat coach Jamey Hughes, whose team lost to Honaker in the regular season and playoffs. “But he still got open and caught it. We had to know where he was at all times, and it seems like whenever they needed a play, he was there ready to make it.”
The opposition lost some sleep the night before going against Bandy and the Tigers.
How did you stop this guy?
Better yet, how could you contain this stud?
“The toughest part about defending him was you had to put your best player on him, and they had five or six other guys around him that could score at any time,” Holston coach Chris Akers said. “But what made it difficult was you always had to account for where he was on the field.”
Musick threw for 3,626 yards and 50 TDs, while Aidan Lowe had 1,259 rushing yards and 725 receiving yards.
Six of tight end Malachi Lowe’s 20 receptions resulted in touchdowns.
“The best part about playing in the offense was the freedom of getting to find open space and to get so many different people the ball,” Bandy said. “We got to utilize all of the guys that put in time and deserved the ball.”
Bandy also made 75 tackles to go along with the nine picks he made.
“As good a wide receiver as he is,” Hughes said. “I’m not too sure that he wasn’t harder to handle on defense as a safety.”
Like he did on offense, Bandy took a cerebral approach and took as much pride in defending passes as he did catching them.
“Understanding what a QB is thinking is the biggest thing that helped me as a DB,” Bandy said. “I always tried to read the QB and not let him read me. Playing off instinct was the key for my success at DB.”
Bandy had nine catches for 94 yards and a touchdown in the state semifinals, a 49-36 loss to Galax.
That was the only blemish on a 13-1 mark for the Tigers, who won the Hogoheegee District and Region 1D titles.
Bandy left the rain-soaked field that day stunned and saddened.
“I was devastated,” Bandy said. “Walking off the field it was tough knowing high school football was over and there was nothing I could do to get it back. I got in the fieldhouse and honestly, just sat there for a while. I just was at a loss for words, because I felt like our season shouldn’t have ended the way it did.”
He didn’t have long to sulk as he began basketball season a couple of days later.
All he did on the hardwood was average 12 points, six rebounds and four assists per game as Honaker swept the Hogoheegee District and Region 1D titles in that sport as well and advanced to the state semifinals.
“He played for me as a sophomore and came off the bench,” Honaker hoops coach Waylon Hart said. “I know he was not happy with that role. Instead of pouting about it or quitting, he was determined to improve his body and his game. I think that says a lot about his character. The next two years he was a starter, all-district, all-region and one of the best players in the state. Parker is one of my favorite players I have ever coached.”
***
Parker Bandy was a big shot as a little kid, but not on the gridiron.
His early success came on a dirt bike.
He won trophies and championships in the 50cc class while soaring through the air and going hard into turns on an orange KTM.
Muddy Creek Raceway, I-81 MotorSports Park, and the Appalachian Fairgrounds were among the tracks in Tennessee he zoomed around.
He’ll still kick start a bike every now and again, revving it up and going for a ride. Just for fun, however.
“I gave it up because I always had a love for sports and I wanted to really start focusing on them more than racing,” Bandy said. “Plus, my mom was scared to death every time I would race. She would sit in our trailer until it started, because it freaked her out so much.”
Bandy was always one of the smallest kids on the football field in his younger days, before experiencing a growth spurt and he now stands 6-foot-1 and tips the scales at 180 pounds.
He transferred from Richlands to Honaker prior to his sophomore year.
Bandy is still just 17-years-old.
When it comes to hitting the books, Bandy’s favorite subjects are anatomy and physics, and he plans to be a physical therapist one day.
He’s also superstitious and he always stuck to one pregame ritual that paid homage to his late grandfather, James Harman.
James Harman had a passion for sports and was a dirt-tracker racer who wore No. 44 on his cars.
No. 44 was unavailable when Bandy arrived at Honaker, so he wears No. 4.
“Growing up I would always love to go to my grandfather’s house, because he would toss football with me inside and outside,” Bandy said. “He would always do it even when he was sick. He always loved watching me play, so that is why it always meant so much to me to honor him. … Before every game right before we ran out I would read a message my uncle [Brogie Harman] would write me before every game and say a prayer. My grandfather was my everything and taught me so much about sports and every message my uncle would send me, he always mentioned my grandfather. He is the reason I wear No. 4. Before every game when I run out, I always tap my chest four times and I point up to him every single game.”
Bandy’s football career is not over as he was part of the first recruiting class assembled by new coach Gary Bass at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise
How has he been preparing?
Take a wild guess.
Along with working out, he’s been running routes and catching passes from Musick, who is a junior and will return to lead Honaker’s offense next season sans his top target.
Day after day.
Putting in the work.
That’s what Parker Bandy – Honaker’s hands man – does and has always done.
Even on vacation.
“He really just took everything serious this season,” Honaker center Maddox Sykes said. “He wasn’t there to mess around.”
**
All-Bristol Herald Courier 2023 Football Team
Offense
Offensive Player of Year: Parker Bandy, Honaker
QB—Peyton Musick, Honaker
RB – Ty’Drez Clements, Graham; Cam Goodspeed, Patrick Henry
WR—Parker Bandy, Honaker; Paul Huff, Union
TE – Corbin Laisure, Sullivan East
OL – Brock Ayers, George Wythe; Tyler Barrett, Patrick Henry; Chase Daugherty, Twin Springs; A.J. Johnson, Union; Kaden Rotenberry, Graham
K—Grant Buchanan, Patrick Henry
KR—Logan McDonald, Tazewell
Ath – Aidan Lowe, Honaker
Defense
Defensive Player of Year: Omarri Hill, Graham
DL – Sage Blevins, Abingdon; Tyler Cole, Honaker; Omarri Hill, Graham; Brent Lovell, Union
LB – Brock Alley, Tazewell; Izzak Keith, Union; Carter Keesee, Tennessee High; Tandom Smith, George Wythe
DB – Logan Barnette, Rye Cove; Chris Edwards, Graham; Peyton Feagins, Tennessee High; Logan Slagle, Virginia High
P-Layton Barnett, Gate City
UTIL- Sawyer Tate, West Ridge
Coach of Year: Todd Tiller, Honaker