Football: Reynolds, Abington rip C.R. North, 41-6
ABINGTON 41, C.R. NORTH 6
Many college football programs wait for senior-year highlight footage before deciding on whether to offer a scholarship to a player.
If that's the case with Abington's Craig Reynolds, he now has a game tape that's beyond worthy of submission.
Friday night against Council Rock North, the 5-foot-10, 190-pounder rushed 28 times for a career-high 286 yards and four touchdowns as the visiting Ghosts rolled to a 41-6 victory in the Suburban One League National Conference opener for both squads at Walt Snyder Stadium.
"It gives me a little chip on my shoulder," Reynolds said of not holding a scholarship offer. "But I'm focused on the team. We're just trying to win each week and get better. It's all about the team."
Reynolds has drawn interest from a number of Division I-AA schools, including Bryant, Monmouth, Sacred Heart, and Villanova. At the I-A level, Massachusetts has been in contact.
"He's gotten faster since last season," Abington coach Tim Sorber said. "He worked extremely hard to improve his speed, and he's benefiting from that."
In racking up 424 yards on the ground, the Ghosts, ranked No. 17 in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer, improved to 4-0.
"I'm blessed with a great offensive line," Reynolds said. "The holes were huge out there. It was easy for me. It was really easy."
Abington's line was made up of center Colin Maxey (6-0, 235), guards Terell Tolbert (6-2, 305) and Jake Clark (5-10, 260), tackles Pat Maguire (6-2, 245) and Andrew Sykes (6-4, 315), and tight end Mark Bond (6-3, 185).
In the first half against C.R. North, Reynolds totaled 202 yards on 16 attempts. He scored on first-quarter runs of 2 and 56 yards.
Reynolds, a free safety who broke up two first-quarter pass attempts, was part of a defensive unit that forced three turnovers (two fumbles) in the opening 13 minutes and held the No. 23 Indians (3-1) to 54 yards rushing overall.
Early in the second quarter, Jordan Neely picked off a deflected pass and returned it 21 yards for a score that put Abington in front, 21-6. Quarterback Anthony Lee added another score, on a 47-yard keeper, before intermission.
In the third quarter, following a successful fake-punt try, Reynolds found the end zone from the 4. Early in the fourth, his 7-yard dart capped the scoring.
C.R. North sophomore Brandon McIlwain connected on 21 of 30 throws for 241 yards. His 18-yard, first-quarter run accounted for the hosts' only tally.
In addition to Reynolds and Neely, linebackers Keith Boggi and Christian Werner keyed Abington's defense. Clark, a tackle, and end Paul Goerlich notched back-to-back sacks in the second quarter.
Early in the second half, Lee, who completed 5 of 7 passes for 71 yards, suffered an ankle injury and gave way to junior Brett Guaglionona.
For the season, Reynolds, of Willow Grove, has rushed 63 times for 620 yards and 11 TDs. He has eight receptions for 110 yards.
Abington 14 14 6 7-41
Council Rock North 6 0 0 0-6
A: Craig Reynolds 2 run (Tim Seydel kick)
CRN: Brandon McIlwain 18 run (pass failed)
A: Reynolds 56 run (Seydel kick)
A: Jordan Neely 21 interception return (Seydel kick)
A: Anthony Lee 47 run (Seydel kick)
A: Reynolds 4 run (kick failed)
A: Reynolds 7 run (Seydel kick)