Pick-6 by Nick

Romano’s interception return
for a TD was the play of the game

Before the year 1980 or so, football fans and TV play-by-play announcers would call the return of an interception for a touchdown exactly that. But it would soon come to be known as a Pick-6 and that is what virtually everyone calls it today.

Nick Romano, who’s been having a superb season for the Vikings, recorded the first Pick-6 of his career against Saugus High in the Vikings’ 40-6 victory last Thursday night.

Instead of Saugus boosting its confidence with a possible touchdown and closing the gap to a one-score game, Romano pounced on a pass and returned it 91 yards for a touchdown and a 20-0 lead. Saugus never recovered from that momentum-turning play.

“I got the ball and my man, Riley [Moccio], Number 72, threw a great block, and I made one cut, and I was gone,” said Romano. “The lane was right there, and I got some good blocks from my boys. It was my first Pick-6 and my first interception. It feels amazing. I had so much adrenaline. All I was thinking was I have to keep running.”

Romano had a great read on the developing pass play, coming over from his middle linebacker position to be in the perfect spot.

“I saw the quarterback’s eyes looking at the receiver and I read it,” said Romano.

“We were in our pit defense.”

Winthrop coach Jon Cadigan said the play resulted from a great call a perfect read

“It was a fourth down, and Coach [Mark] D’Ambrosio did a great job of letting everybody know that Saugus was going to throw the ball,” said Cadigan. “They did a little bit of play-action, but we didn’t bite on it. Nick made a great read and picked it off. The big thing on that play was Riley Moccio and Charlie Ferrara had two touchdown-creating blocks. As soon as Nick picked it off, Riley turned in to a guard on offense and blocked one guy and sprung him.”

Cadigan recalled that former Winthrop stars Will Murphy and Bobby Hubert each had Pick-6s in their career. Former linebacker Freddy Long intercepted a Revere pass on Thanksgiving and returned it for a touchdown in a Vikings’ win under head coach Tony Fucillo.

Saugus head coach Steve Cummings said Romano’s theft was a big, game-shifting play.

“We had 4th-and-13, and our quarterback is trying to make a play, and they had a linebacker jump out into an area, and he made a nice play on it,” said Cummings.

“Nick’s Pick-6 was awesome,” said teammate Desmond Cassidy. “I’m hoping we can build off this win and keep it going.”