Craig Reynolds, a 2014 graduate of Abington High School, is seeing hometown support as the Detroit Lions running back helped his team to the NFC championship game on Sunday, January 28 against the San Francisco 49ers.
Reynolds scored a third-quarter touchdown on a fourth-and-goal during the Lions’ 31-23 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The previous week’s victory against the Los Angeles Rams was the first playoff game the Lions had won in 32 years.
A win on Sunday would mean the Lions’ first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.
Former head football coach Mr. Tim Sorber and assistant coach Mr. Kevin Conlin were interviewed by FOX29 on Tuesday to talk about their experiences coaching Reynolds.
“Probably one of the hardest working players that I had in my 16 years of coaching,” Sorber said. “He has a chip on his shoulder and I think that chip on his shoulder really comes out in his play there.”
Reynolds rushed for more than 2,100 yards and 30 touchdowns his senior year at Abington.
“Everybody knew he was getting the ball, but he ran with such determination, he was just such a hard worker,” Conlin said.
Reynolds, now 27, went undrafted following the 2019 NFL Draft. He joined Detroit after playing one season for the Jacksonville Jaguars (2020) and one season for the Washington Commanders (2019).
His father, Eric Reynolds, Sr., was a 1,000-yard rusher at Abington.
Reynolds during a 2022 visit to his alma mater
History with Chuck
On Thanksgiving Day, 2013, Abington’s and Cheltenham’s high school football teams met in Wyncote to renew their annual backyard rivalry.
According to local historian Chuck Langerman, Abington had the ball at the Panther 44-yard line with 1:13 remaining in regulation.
On fourth-and-one, Abington gave the ball to star back Craig Reynolds to seal the victory. The Cheltenham defense stopped Reynolds and the Panther offense scored on a touchdown run by quarterback Mark Heimann, tying the score at 27-27 and sending the game into overtime.
In overtime, Panther wide receiver Brandon Mack (below) caught a seven-yard touchdown pass and Heimann ran in the two-point conversion to give the Panthers a 35-34 victory over the Ghosts.
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Photos: ASD, Suburban One Sports