Source: Ciara Maynard, Western / Photo credit Samantha Fischer
Name: Will Finch
University: Western
Hometown: Burlington, Ont.
High School: Nelson High School
Position: Quarterback
Academic Program: Social Sciences
Year of Eligibility: 3rd
Height: 6’4
Weight: 225 pounds
Key Stats 2013: Set OUA records with 3,047 passing yards and a 69.7% completion percentage (191 of 274 passes). Threw for 21 touchdowns and added five more on the ground, leading the Mustangs to a perfect 8-0 season and their 30th Yates Cup.
Awards and Honours (since start of CIS career): OUA Most Valuable Player (2013), CIS Hec Crighton Trophy nominee (2013), OUA Football Player of the Week (2013), OUA First Team All-Star (2013), CIS Football Offensive Player of the Week (2013), OUA Male Athlete of the Week (2013)
After a record-setting 2013 season, Will Finch steps behind centre for his third season with the Western Mustangs and looks to continue as one of the top quarterbacks in the CIS. Finch helped lead the Mustangs to a perfect 8-0 season last year, their first perfect season since 1998, en route to capturing the 30th Yates Cup in school history. The Burlington, Ont., native rewrote the OUA record book during his sophomore season, setting new OUA milestones for passing yards with 3,047, and completion percentage, hitting 69.7% of his passes. Along with his individual accomplishments Finch helped the Mustangs set a new OUA team scoring record with 458 regular season points.
“Will is as good a young quarterback as I’ve ever seen,” said Western head coach Greg Marshall. “He had a great season last year as only a 19-year old. People have compared him to Michael Faulds, but Michael was 26 when he played here. Will is one of the best quarterbacks I’ve coached, he shows such poise and leadership as he directs the offence.”
In his latest campaign, Finch completed 191 of 274 attempted passes and threw 21 touchdowns, adding five more on the ground. In the Mustangs last regular season game, he completed 32 of 48 passes for three touchdowns and a CIS season-best 547 yards: a performance that helped the Mustangs clinch first place in the OUA and end the season undefeated, for which Finch was named CIS Football Player of the Week. His outstanding 2013 season earned him the title of OUA Most Valuable Player and a nomination for the CIS Hec Crighton Trophy as well as OUA All-Star and CIS All-Canadian status. Finch will look to carry forward the momentum of last season and build off of his fantastic 2013 campaign as he aims to lead the purple and white to a second consecutive Yates Cup championship and the seventh Vanier Cup title in program history.