Football: Romero’s yard was crucial

Football: Romero’s yard was crucial

Football: Romero’s yard was crucial

Ex-Loreauville High star caught big touchdown pass

Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

Cody Romero only provided one offensive yard to his USL football team 10 years ago this week, but it was a big yard.
The Loreauville product and senior tight end caught a one-yard pass from Jake Delhomme midway through the second quarter against Texas A&M on that Sept. 14, 1996 night in Cajun Field. It was the Cajuns’ only offensive touchdown in what turned into the most notable victory in the program’s history.

"It was like it didn’t hit me until later, what we had done," Romero said of the 29-22 win over the 25th-ranked Aggies. "Years later, it still hits you. When we realized that we’d beaten A&M …"

Romero’s catch gave the Cajuns a shocking 21-7 lead just over five minutes into the second period, and the hosts eventually won on Britt Jackson’s 30-yard interception return with 6:30 left that wiped out a 22-21 deficit.
The Aggies had scored early, but the Cajuns claimed a 14-7 lead on an interception and a fumble return for touchdowns. Then, the Delhomme-led offense marched 93 yards on 17 plays against A&M’s "Wrecking Crew" defense, and faced a fourth-and-goal from the A&M one.

Romero still remembers the play, and Delhomme’s instructions in the huddle.

"I was on the left side and we faked to the right," Romero said. "I had to hold the defensive end until the linebacker flowed by, and I took the route to the left.

"The year before I missed the same kind of pass against UAB. Jake just said don’t miss this one before we broke the huddle. It was pretty exciting."

It was also a great present for Romero’s mother, who celebrated a birthday on game day. "I’d been getting after Jake all week, telling him I wanted that (a victory) for her birthday."

Romero, back living in Loreauville and employed by Halliburton for the past four years, said that his teammates’ confidence grew throughout that night. It helped that the Aggies turned the ball over eight times, three of which were returned for touchdowns.

"During the game, I knew we had a chance," he said. "Not a lot of people gave us a chance to beat a school like that. Our defense really carried us."

That game is still a topic of conversation between those involved.

"I was talking with Jake about that not too long ago," Romero said. "I’m still in touch with some of the guys and I see them around a lot. Dexter Babineaux and I are pretty close, and we still talk about that game."

Originally published September 8, 2006