By: Ron Brocato

Throughout the 2025 high school football season, Brother Martin’s Easton Royal ‘27 and Brady McCluskey ‘27 impressed the Crusaders’ District 9-5A rival coaches by their notable performances over the 10-game regular season. Their efforts were rewarded at the Nov. 19 meeting of the league’s eight head coaches, who named the two junior standouts to their 2025 All-District 9-5A Football team. Royal was one of the top vote-getters as a wide receiver, and McCluskey’s statistics were equally impressive to the coaches who watched his play over the course of the Crusaders’ 7-5 campaign.

Royal earned his spot on the 18-man offensive unit in several ways. As a receiver, he hauled in 61 passes for 1,254 yards and scored 15 touchdowns on pass receptions. He added three more touchdowns on end-around runs, totalling 190 additional yards. And as one of the top scoring threats in the league, the 6-1, 195-pound speedster returned kickoffs for 239 yards and punts totalling 233 yards, including one for an 88-yard touchdown.

A 5-9, 177-pound strong safety, McCluskey earned the coaches’ nod at a linebacker position. Having played in eight games, the talented junior contributed a team-leading 101 individual tackles, 12 of which were for losses. His tenacity accounted for three quarterback hits, three pressures, one sack, and an intercepted pass.

Congratulations to Brother Martin Crusaders Easton Royal ‘27 and Brady McCluskey ‘27 for being selected for the Louisiana Football Coaches Association's 2025 All-District 9-5A Football Team.