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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.”

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 21, 2024 at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church for Marie Foret Broussard, 66, who passed away Saturday, September 14, 2024, at Ochsner Lafayette General Hospital.
Fr. Mark Miley, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, will be officiating the services, with Fr. Marshall Boulet, Fr. Glenn Meaux, Fr. Anand Raju, Fr. Bala Rayapati, and Fr. Brent Smith concelebrating, and Deacon Dan Didier assisting. Visiting hours will be held Saturday, September 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael Catholic Church and a rosary will be led by Deacon Dan Didier at 10:30 a.m. Dr. John Foret will deliver a eulogy on behalf of the family and Murphy Guilbeaux will serve as music minister. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery immediately following the Mass.
Marie held multiple degrees including a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, as well as a Master of Education in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She graduated from Our Lady of Fatima High School in 1976 and the Catholic education she received there instilled the tenets of abiding faith and importance of family that she lived by.
She taught at Crowley Kindergarten and served as principal at Evangeline Elementary School and Mermentau Elementary School. An outstanding educator and Teacher of the Year award recipient, she was regarded by peers, parents, and students as an insightful leader who believed in the importance of education and the potential of every child. She retired on July 1, 2019 after 38 years of outstanding service and dedication to the Vermilion and Acadia Parish School Systems.
She led by example in her professional, personal, and religious communities, serving as a Children’s Church Minister and Lector at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. Her Catholic faith was, and will continue to be, an inspiration to all who knew her.
She loved to cook and her dishes are on many holiday favorites lists. Her recipes will live on, along with her beautiful spirit, in the hearts and holidays of her loved ones. Marie loved spending time with family and friends, vacationing at Hodges Gardens with extended family, co-hosting summer adventures with her sisters for her nieces and nephews, attending her grandchildren’s activities, going for walks, and writing poetry. Creating memories for her grandkids as their ReRe was one of her greatest joys.
In keeping with Marie’s loving and generous spirit, she shared the gift of life through organ and tissue donation. Her legacy will live on through her recipients as they share the precious gift of life they received from her in their families and communities.
She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Jules Broussard; two sons, Jason Broussard and his wife Sheri of Maurice, and Andre Broussard and his wife Caroline of Crowley; six grandchildren, Emmie Broussard, Zoe Young, Rhett Young, Carter Fagan, Luke Thomas Broussard, and Henry Broussard; eight siblings, Jim Foret and his wife Paula, Renee Enze and her husband Chuck, Yvette Yandle and her husband Sonny, Marcelle Langlinais and her husband Bob, Dr. Celeste Garbarino and her husband Rich, Adrienne Menard and her husband Randy, Dr. John Foret and his wife Marcelle, Jeff Foret and his wife Joetta; her brother-in-law, Mike Slover; her sisters-in-law, Kathy Bourgeois, Barbara Louviere and her husband Gerald, and Cindy Broussard; and numerous nieces, nephews, and godchildren for whom she was a favorite aunt.
Marie is preceded in death by her parents, Dr. James and Fay Theard Foret; one sister, Michelle Slover; her in-laws, C.L. Broussard and Eugenie LeBlanc; two brothers-in-law, Bill Broussard and Terry Bourgeois; a niece, Ashley Guidry; and two nephews, Nicholas Garbarino and Brandon Broussard.
The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to all the medical professionals and caregivers who supported Marie and her care, including the professionals at Adult Day Health Care of Carencro and Dr. Karrie Kilgore, as well as Dr. Virginia Kellner, Dr. Jeannette Liu, Dr. Joseph Schulz, Dr. Deidre Stelly, Muff Bier, Jenny Didier, Marcelle Langlinais, Melissa Lege, Adrienne Menard, and Joanne Richey. The family would also like to share heartfelt thanks with the Foret family, Fr. Milliard Boyer, Cindy Broussard, Emily Broussard, Lauren Broussard, Gwen Cormier, Dena and Kelly Faulk, Diane and Ed Gibson, Penny and Kenny Habetz, Cheryl and Ricky LeBlanc, Beverly Maloz, Fr. Glenn Meaux, Fr. Mark Miley, Fr. Louis Richard, Johanna Sittig, and Riceland Drive neighbors for the support, visits, and prayers throughout her extended illness.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in her name to Alzheimer's Association Louisiana Chapter, 831 Kings Highway, Ste 120, Shreveport, LA 71104, St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, and/or St. Michael Catholic School.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home of Crowley, 301 N. Ave F, Crowley, LA 70526, 337-783-3313, www.geesey-ferguson.com.