WORCESTER – At the end of July, right before the start of preseason camp, Holy Cross junior quarterback David Lynch invited HC’s wide receivers, Myles Abernathy, Ty Curran, RJ Newton, SirCharles Gordon and Malachi Streeter, to his family’s home in East Greenwich, R.I., for a football-free weekend of fun and relaxation.
It was a great way for Lynch, who transferred to Holy Cross from Pitt, to really get to know his new teammates and for them to get to know him.
“That was a great experience, bonding with him and the other receivers,” Abernathy, a junior transfer from George State, said before practice this week. “We were just at his house, taking our minds off football and taking that time to know each other.”
Abernathy and Lynch quickly discovered their shared love of Drake.
Lynch beat out senior Cal Swanson for the starting quarterback position and, along with Abernathy, made his Holy Cross debut in the Crusaders’ season-opening loss to Lehigh at Fitton Field.
HC scored just 10 points against the Mountain Hawks and struggled in the red zone, but Lynch, who played in three games for Pitt in 2024, showed poise and command, made some nice throws and established a promising on-field rapport with Abernathy, who had nine receptions for 129 yards.
“There were so many positive moments from so many guys,” said Lynch, who was 25-40 for 313 yards and a touchdown pass to sophomore tight end Drae Tyme. “This group is still coming together, and I think there is a lot we can improve on and build off of. Myles is so dynamic and we have a lot of receivers like that. I’m excited for the whole room.”
Abernathy did not play during his two years at Georgia State, so last Saturday was his first game since his senior season of high school.
“I thought I would be nervous,” Abernathy said, “but I was more anxious to get out there and play. More than anything it felt great being back out on the field.”
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Abernathy had a long reception of 37 yards when he outjumped a Lehigh defensive back in the first quarter, and a 24-yard grab that helped set up HC’s touchdown in the fourth quarter.
“(Lynch) trusts me,” Abernathy said. “He told me if there is any situation where there’s a lot of pressure, he trusts me to go up and get the ball, and I feel like that means a lot to hear from your quarterback.”
Former HC coach Bob Chesney’s staff recruited Abernathy out of Peachtree Ridge High School in Georgia, where he was an all-state receiver.
When Abernathy entered the transfer portal, Holy Cross assistant head coach/wide receivers coach Rich Gunnell reached out to him.
“When he hit me up,” Abernathy said, “I knew this place was home. My parents loved it and Coach Gunnell is very great. He has helped me a lot with my confidence.”
As of Week 2 of training camp, Abernathy was battling to be a starter.
“But by the end of camp,” HC coach Dan Curran said, “he really asserted himself as a guy who can win some of those one-on-one matchups. I thought he had a really good game (against Lehigh), and we are going to need more of that.”
The Crusaders will face a high-caliber cornerback tandem in Tymir Wynn and Justyn Toler this week at Colgate.
Holy Cross did not publicly announced Lynch as its starter until game day. Curran said his decision making, communication, leadership, ability to elevate those around him, and professional preparation set him apart.
“Just taking everything I’ve learned these last three years from everybody I’ve been around about how to prepare, how to watch film, how to take care of my body, I think that’s the biggest thing that’s helped me,” Lynch said. “Taking bits and pieces from everybody’s routine and putting my routine together and just being consistent in my routine.”
Stopping Colgate's run a priority for HC
Holy Cross had few answers for Lehigh’s rushing attack in the 35-10 loss. Led by Luke Yoder, the 2025 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year who scored three touchdowns, the Mountain Hawks ran for 281 yards and averaged 7 yards per carry.
The Crusaders will face a similar challenge when they travel to Colgate on Sept. 5.
In the Raiders’ 24-14 season-opening win over Fordham, junior running back Danny Shaban rushed for a career-high 214 yards and two TDs.
“They established the run game and broke Fordham’s back a little bit,” Curran said. “Schematically, they are different than Lehigh, but their tailback is a really good player and he runs really hard. We know we have to do a good job of getting 11 hats around the football and wrapping up. Colgate has a veteran offensive line and their chemistry is apparent on film.”
In addition to the red zone woes against Lehigh, Curran thought tackling, especially in the first quarter, was an issue for the Crusaders.
“We have to be better in both areas,” Curran said.
For the first time since 2001, Holy Cross opens against back-to-back Patriot League opponents.
Fitton Field turf on the mend
Fans at last weekend’s opener and those watching on TV noticed that the usually green and pristine Fitton Field had a few brown spots on it.
The grass at Fitton, according to Holy Cross, experienced some disease that arrived in late July. Brendon Connor, HC’s superintendent of grounds who grew up in West Boylston, and his crew, who meticulously maintain the field, have sent samples for testing and to identify the right course of treatment to get Fitton Field back in top condition, HC said.
The Crusaders’ next home game is Sept. 19 against Yale.
“Those guys do such a great job with that stuff,” Curran said, “and I fully expect the next time we get back home against Yale it will look the way it always does.”
Nichols welcomes former AMC players
Nichols’ roster includes 16 transfers from Anna Maria and a first-year player who was set to be a freshman at AMC.
Anna Maria closed at the end of the 2026 spring semester due to declining enrollment and financial struggles.
“It’s been good for our roster and there are some very, very good players,” Nichols coach Vinny Marino said. “I think they’re enjoying it considering the very tough situation they are dealing with. We’re excited to have them and they have blended in very well with the returning guys.”
Nichols hosts MIT at 6 p.m. Sept. 4 in its opener. Tanner Kingsley, who was Anna Maria’s coach in 2025, is MIT’s offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.
–Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JenTolandTG.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Area College Football Notes: Lynch, Abernathy fitting in at Holy Cross