There was no mystery Friday night at East Ascension.

The Spartans' game plan was to line up and run the ball straight at Brother Martin. It was an approach that nearly paid off, but Brother Martin had an answer with the game on the line.

The Crusaders came up with a pair of key fourth-quarter defensive stops in their own territory, and they held on for a 29-22 win over the Spartans in Gonzales.

Brother Martin (1-0) trailed 22-9 at halftime but rallied behind the play of Easton Royal. The Crusaders junior wide receiver tied the game late in the third quarter with a 5-yard touchdown run. Early in the fourth, he gave his team the lead with a 47-yard catch-and-run score.

Royal finished with 130 total yards and three touchdowns. He rushed four times for 71 yards and two scores, and added fo

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