Bonis returns to sideline, then returns to hospital

It was a respite, however brief it was.

For Mark Bonis, it has been perhaps the most difficult month of his life.

The Brother Martin head football coach has spent most of the past month in the hospital with his wife, Rebecca, and their infant son, Marc.

Born with abnormalities, Marc has been fighting for every breath, every inch of life. For Mark and Rebecca, it has been the struggle of a lifetime, one which their faith has helped sustain them.

The sheer beauty of five-year-old twin daughters Brynn and Blake smiling at and touching Marc at Ochsner Baptist Hospital has brightened an otherwise dark time in the lives of the Bonis family.

Friday night, Mark Bonis left the dreariness, the depression, the drudgery of daily hospital life for the sanctuary of the gridiron in Thibodaux.

Bonis has been absent from his football team for most of the past month for good reason. Some things are simply more important than football and Bonis has his priorities in order.

“Our family comes first but it was great to be there and to be with the coaches and kids and to do what I am accustomed to doing,” Bonis said. “Once I got on the field, it was a typical game day. I think I’ve done a pretty good job compartmentalizing things. We have a job to do. Our staff has done a great job, to this point. They laid out a great plan and the players executed well tonight.”

The disappointment of facing such a difficult personal situation was multiplied by two when Bonis and Brother Martin endured a ruling which saw his program put on probation and his school fined $1,000 for an LHSAA rules violation.

Though Brother Martin is vigorously challenging the ruling by appeal and though the school administration is standing firmly behind Bonis, the coach had to take what amounts to a remedial test on rules Thursday night and this morning to enable himself to coach on this night. The process took up to 12 hours to complete.

At the annual Brothers of the Sacred Heart Jamboree at Guidry Stadium, Bonis experienced a few hours of temporary bliss as his Crusaders played well in a 21-0 victory over E.D. White Catholic.

Brother Martin started quickly, scoring on their first possession. Chris Smith raced 50 yards and on the next play, scored on a 22-yard run to make it 7-0 with 13:15 to play in the half.

After the Cardinals committed a turnover, quarterback Drew Martin took advantage, scoring on a 14-yard run to make it 14-0 with 11:57 to play in the first half.

The Crusaders increased the lead to 21-0 before halftime on a three-yard run by Smith, set up by a 30-yard completion from Martin to Michael Clapp.

The second half was scoreless as Brother Martin played two more quarterbacks in Isaiah Torregano and Garrett Mmahat.

“I was happy with our kids,” Bonis said. “They played fast and physical. We played Brother Martin football tonight. We were able to play a lot of young players which are important snaps for young players. We have a lot of young guys who will have to play significant roles during the season.”

The Bonis family will forge ahead with tremendous will, determination and a river full of faith, embracing that faith while bracing for whatever lies ahead.

“Rebecca surprised me tonight, bringing the girls to the game,” Bonis said. “It was really good for them. My family has always been like this. This little guy of ours has been fighting. It has been tough to endure, tough to watch. We believe in our family, in fighting through hard times, fighting through adversity. I know that is what Marc wants me to do. I know that is what God wants me to do.”

Through it all, Bonis continues the learning process that is life.

“When you go through tough times, it puts things in perspective,” Bonis said. “Everything that has happened has brought our family closer together and our team closer together. People have been great to us. Our Brother Martin family has been great for us. The support they have given us with Marc and with the LHSAA matter is special. I love our leadership at the school.”

Bonis is moved by the outpouring of well wishes he and his family have received.

“I’m a better person because of it all,” Bonis said. “It’s awe-inspiring to know how many people have prayed for us and reached out to us. The people at Ochsner-Baptist are great and have done a great job. All we can do is pray.”

As we concluded our conversation, Bonis was on his way back to Brother Martin to get his vehicle and to immediately return to the hospital.

“We’ll pray as a team and then I will head back to Ochsner-Baptist,” Bonis said.

In the opening game of the jamboree, Guy Lecompte debuted as the head coach at Holy Cross and he and his Tigers were impressive in a 28-6 victory over Vandebilt Catholic.

Holy Cross dominated early and often, exploding to a 28-0 lead by halftime.

Junior Celven Hulbert scored on touchdown runs of 12 and seven yards while Bryan Broussard added a pair of touchdowns passes, one of six yards to Jalen Johnson and a second of four yards to Tyler Kirkwood.

Brother Martin opens its season at Petal, MS next Friday night while Holy Cross entertains Higgins at Tad Gormley Stadium on the same evening.

“I look forward to coaching this great group of young men again next week,” Bonis said. “By then, there is the hope that things will have improved for Marc as well.”

We all do, Mark.