When Braden Mitchell went down with a knee injury in Ninety Six’s matchup at Emerald to open up the season, he was electrifying the crowd at Frank Hill Stadium with his legs and deadly accurate left arm.
This past Friday night, he picked right back up where he left off.
“It felt great to be back on the field,” said Mitchell. “It was fun watching the team win, but it just feels really good to be back.”
Mitchell returned in great fashion in the 42-14 Wildcat win over Landrum, passing for 293 yards with two touchdowns through the air as well as another touchdown on the ground. According to Ninety Six head coach Mathew Bennett, Mitchell’s return to the gridiron allows for a whole new beast in the Wildcat air attack.
“It makes it a lot harder on defenses knowing that we can utilize our weapons outside in Ladarion Waldrop, Evan Adams and Jaiden Hackett at tight end,” said Bennett. “Braden can make almost any throw, so we can really spread the field. Plus, he’s got something that Carver (Davis) can’t have yet, and that’s experience.”
Mitchell’s return was not perfect. He threw two interceptions after finding receiver Ladarion Waldrop for the first score of the game. However, Mitchell was able to remain composed and lead his team to a big victory in the second half.
“Everything felt a bit fast and I had to knock the rust off,” said Mitchell. “Eventually, I got comfortable, put trust in my teammates, and we were able to get the win.”
The recovery process was not easy for Mitchell. Battling a knee fracture, MCL sprain, and bone contusion all at the same time, Mitchell was looking at being out eight to 10 weeks.
“I was mad. I would have done anything to fix it, but there was nothing I could do,” said Mitchell.
However, through exercises to build the muscle back up and a strong belief in God, Mitchell was able to find his way back onto the field in six weeks.
“I just want to thank God,” said Mitchell. “I’m able to be back playing after only six weeks, so just all glory to God.”
Throughout the recovery process, Mitchell was able to remain positive and show tremendous support for his teammates, especially his backup Carver Davis. To Coach Bennett, that’s exactly what makes Mitchell such a great leader.
“He never missed a day of practice, took every mental rep he could, and helped coach Carver (Davis) up,” said Bennett. “He was the best teammate and leader he could be during that time.”
The Wildcats didn’t skip a beat in Mitchell’s absence, posting a strong 4-1 record, including a big region win over Blacksburg. The Wildcats still have three region games left to play, including the defending AA state champion and longtime rival Abbeville Panthers. According to Mitchell, his trust in his teammates, especially his receiving corps, will be crucial in continuing the Wildcats’s exceptional season.
“I have a lot of trust in my teammates to go out and do what we need to do,” said Mitchell. “We’ve been playing together for a long time and that chemistry goes a long way.”