Prep Football Player of the Week, Andy Romo: The 80% solution

Barry Faulkner

In his 10th season of organized football, Estancia High senior Andy

Romo has built an ample foundation of muscle memory. But when it comes to

ligaments, particularly those in his left knee, Romo counts on his memory

failing him.

“They don’t know exactly what’s wrong and I don’t even want to know,”

Romo said of the knee strain which he has chosen to play through, rather

than risk a diagnosis that could trigger season-ending surgery.

Romo, who injured the knee in the eighth game last season -- and

aggravated the fourth game this fall -- estimates he’s been operating at

around 80% this year, sometimes much less. But the 6-foot, 175-pounder

has still managed to contribute mightily for the Eagles (5-3, 2-1 in

league), who are one victory away from reaching the CIF Southern Section

playoffs for the first time since 1995.

He rushed for a game-high 125 yards on 13 carries, caught one pass for

11 more, returned two kickoffs for 45 yards and scored the final two

touchdowns to key a 34-27 come-from-behind Pacific Coast League victory

over crosstown rival Costa Mesa Friday at Newport Harbor High.

For his efforts, he is the Daily Pilot Player of the Week.

“I can’t tell you how much I admire him for playing with the pain he

does,” Estancia Coach Dave Perkins said. “He’s been playing on one leg,

basically since the Santa Ana Valley game (Sept. 30).”

Though the injury, which prohibits him from backpedaling, has forced

him out of his cornerback spot the last four weeks (except the final

three plays against Mesa, during which he nearly intercepted a pass),

there is much to admire about Romo’s offensive productivity.

Despite limited ability to cut and few workouts (he practiced for the

first all month last week), the versatile receiver-running back has been

the Eagles’ most explosive player.

He has rushed for a team-leading 724 yards and eight TDs on 104

carries (nearly 7 yards per attempt), has a team-high 22 receptions for

274 yards and two TDs, and has also returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

A first-team All-PCL outside linebacker as a junior, his presence has

been dearly missed on defense, where inconsistency in the secondary has

helped league opponents score 105 points in three games.

Though Romo has never played running back before, he has shown a

natural ability to finish runs, make tacklers miss, and rack up yardage.

“Pretty much, I think it just comes down to wanting it,” said Romo, a

three-year starter who is one of this year’s valued team leaders.

“He’s not a running back,” Perkins insists. “He’s a receiver, who

carries the ball. We like to get him the ball, because he can make a big

play and break the other team’s back. He sets up his blocks very well and

he’s very tough. And, he’s so skinny, there isn’t very much of him to

hit.”

Romo hit paydirt twice in the final quarter to help erase what once

was a 20-0 deficit against Mesa.

After the Mustang punter fielded a low snap on his knees, downing the

ball at his own 8-yard line, Romo swept in on the next snap to break a

20-20 tie.

After Mesa answered with a touchdown with 2:34 remaining, Romo capped

a 10-play, 74-yard march with a 3-yard sweep with 21 seconds left. His

11-yard reception also produced a first down on the march.

“I wasn’t thinking about anything but that I had to get in,” Romo said

of the deciding TD.

Romo said he has learned not to think about his bad wheel, though he

notices on game videotape that he isn’t moving as he should.

But 80% of Romo appears to be all that is needed to propel the team

into the postseason.

“That’s what we’re all working for,” he said. “We’re trying to bring

Estancia back up.”