Romero’s Records
Mechanicsburg senior quarterback Kaleb Romero has re-written the school’s record book in his four years as the starter. He holds over 60 records. Here are some of the most notable ones:
Career
Total offense: 10,196 yards (5,316 passing, 5,600 rushing)
Most passing yards: 5,316
Touchdown responsibility: 140 (61 passing, 74 rushing, 5 returns)
Touchdown passes: 61
Rushing touchdowns: 74
Most points: 530
Single season
Total offense: 3,498 yards (1,796 passing, 1,702 rusing)
Touchdown responsibility: 44 (16 passing, 28 rushing)
Single game
Total offense: 412 (212 rushing, 188 passing)
The statistics and number of records next to Kaleb Romero’s name are impressive. But coaches and teammates see things others don’t.
Romero’s siblings saw it when he was a little boy.
“Ever since I was younger I couldn’t stand to lose, even board games,” Romero said. “My siblings hated playing games with me because I’d get so mad when I’d lose. I think it’s just because I love winning.”
Mechanicsburg football coach Kurt Forrest saw it when Romero became a freshman and joined the upperclassmen in the weight room.
“I remember the competition that he created in the weight room with some of the older kids of not wanting them to be stronger than him and going back and forth,” Forrest said. “It started a culture of competitiveness.”
No team in the area has played at the same levels of competition as Mechanicsburg since Romero became the team’s starting quarterback and safety his freshman year. He’s part of the winningest senior class in school history with 42 victories, four playoff appearances and a final four appearance.
The Indians are 11-0 and trying to navigate the difficult fields of Division VI, Region 22 again and make it back to the final four like they did Romero’s freshman year. Two years ago they lost an overtime thriller to eventual state champion Minster in the first round. Last year they lost 9-7 to state runner-up Marion Local in the regional final.
On Friday at 7 p.m., the Indians play Delphos Jefferson in Bellefontaine in a second-round game. A win means a likely rematch with Marion Local. Either way, Romero’s time in an Indians uniform is almost complete.
“I’ve thought about it a little bit, but we’re just trying to make the most of it right now — working hard and trying to get to Week 15,” Romero said.
Romero is a three-time state wrestling champion and will wrestle for Ohio State. But he holds over 60 school offensive records. He’s the total offense leader with over 10,000 yards and he’s been responsible for 140 touchdowns, more than anyone else.
“I love scoring touchdowns and meeting my teammates in the end zone,” he said. “You realize all the hard work you put in that week has paid off and you’re meeting your brothers in the end zone.”
Forrest is in his seventh year as the head coach and remembers watching Romero play running back and linebacker in middle school.
“He was head and shoulders above the other kids,” Forrest said. “Not from a size standpoint, but from an ability and toughness and competitive standpoint. You knew he was going to be a really good football player then.”
So about halfway through the season Forrest asked the middle school coach to give Romero some time at quarterback. A package of five plays was developed, Romero became a quarterback and his legacy began. Forrest wanted to take advantage of Romero’s running skills because offenses have turned so much to featuring running quarterbacks. He took to the position naturally except for an awkward throwing motion.
“How much he improved that from his middle school years until now is amazing,” Forrest said. “He worked at it and worked at it and worked at it because he’s such a perfectionist. He wants to be the best at everything.”
Including his school work. Forrest remembers seeing Romero talking to a teacher after class at the end of the day instead of running off to football practice. Forrest checked with the teacher to be sure everything was OK. The teacher said Romero was double-checking to be sure he had done a test correctly.
“It doesn’t matter the setting he’s in, he wants to be perfect at everything,” Forrest said. “That’s just the competitiveness coming out.”
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