Brandon Mitchell returns to Wildcat Stadium in Abbeville after 30 years

Friday night’s football game between Ascension Episcopal and Abbeville High was special for a graduate of Abbeville High.
Brandon Mitchell, who graduated from Abbeville in the early 1990s, had not been on the field at Abbeville High since he graduated and left to go play football at Texas A&M. 
He returned to Wildcat Stadium because he is the defensive coach for the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators, who was playing the Wildcats. Mitchell’s son, Branon, is also the starting quarterback for the Blue Gators.
“It felt really good coming back home,” said Brandon after the game. “ It was a little emotional being  here where it all began.”
The Blue Gators crushed Abbeville 38-14 in Mitchell’s return.
At the end of the game, Mitchell’s mother, sister, and other family members came to meet him and his son in the middle of the field.
Before the game, the two Mitchells discussed Brandon’s return to Wildcat Stadium. His son told him he would do his best on the field. The Blue Gator players also knew it was Mitchell’s return to the AHS sideline in more than 30 years.
“The kids told me they would give me their best effort,” said Brandon. “I appreciate those kids. They are easy to coach.”
He has been coaching at Ascension for the last 10 years. 
The Mitchells came into the game also wanting to beat Abbeville. Brandon said his son is friends with a few of the Wildcat players.
Brandon is the defensive coach first and Branon’s dad second. Against Abbeville, the two said little to one another. While Branon was playing quarterback, Brandon walked on the sideline talking to his defensive players. When Branon was on the sideline resting, Brandon was coaching the defense.
So when does he get to watch his son play? Later that night, when he was watches game- film.
“After the game, I get to watch the film,” said Brandon. “If there is a long drive, I also get to watch him. It is tough being a coach/dad. I let other coaches coach him.”
Branon had a solid game against Abbeville. He completed four passes for 77 yards. Two of those passes were for touchdowns.
Branon also ran 14 yards for a touchdown, putting Ascension ahead 28-8. He finished the game with seven carries for 55 yards. 
Branon said he enjoyed playing in Wildcat Stadium.
“It was fun, being that my dad played here,” said Branon, 17. “I enjoyed coming back here to play on the same field.”
Branon said he does not feel pressure to live up to Brandon’s resume, which would be tough for anyone to try to match. Brandon has a few high school state track titles in the shot put, plus four outstanding years playing defensive end at Texas A&M and, to top it off, seven years playing in the NFL.
“I look at him as my dad,” said Branon. “I am different, so I can not be him.”