Quebec, QC - The Mustangs picked up a pair of the top awards at the annual Vanier Cup gala in Quebec as national award winners and All-Canadians were celebrated.

Western QB Chris Merchant was named the 2019 winner of the Hec Crighton Trophy as the most outstanding player in U SPORTS football & Head Coach Greg Marshall was named the winner of the Frank Tindall Trophy as Coach of the Year.

"Chris has had an outstanding season and career as our quarterback at Western," said Head Coach Greg Marshall. "He really is the ideal of what we want in our U SPORTS student-athletes. His work ethic and competitive spirit has been an inspiration to our team. His record as our starting quarterback is an incredible 39-3. He is truly deserving of this award and will go down as one of the best student-athletes to ever play at Western."

Merchant was a constant presence throughout Western's undefeated regular season, the third consecutive year the Mustangs have accomplished that feat. Merchant has done it all in the 2019 season as the very definition of a dual threat with his ability to beat defences both through the air or with his legs. Merchant completed 159 of 232 pass attempts this season (68.5 per cent) for 2,378 yards and 14 touchdowns. But Merchant was just as dangerous when he called his own number, rushing the ball a career-high 77 times for another 438 yards and six majors.

Hec Crighton Trophy / Trophée Hec Crighton :

Chris Merchant, @WesternMustangs

Congratulations! / Félicitations !#ChaseTheGlory | #ViserHaut pic.twitter.com/qbL1pia27L

— U SPORTS (@USPORTSca) November 22, 2019

Merchant adds Hec Crighton Trophy winner to a list of accomplishments that includes OUA MVP (2019), second team OUA all-star in 2018, the Dalt White Trophy as Yates Cup MVP, and Mitchell Bowl MVP (both in 2018), and winning the Ted Morris Memorial Trophy as Vanier Cup MVP (2017).

Merchant is only the 6th Mustang to win the most prestigious award in Canadian university football joining Jamie Bone (1978), Greg Marshall (1980), Blake Marshall (1986), Tim Tindale (1991,1993), Andy Fantuz (2005).

Meanwhile, Marshall picks up the Frank Tindall Trophy for the second straight season and the third time in his illustrious career.

"Despite an offseason with multiple coaching changes, several graduating starters, and a largely rookie offensive line, Coach Marshall led the Mustangs to another undefeated season," said Christine Stapleton, Director, Sports and Recreation Services. "His ability to motivate and inspire his teams is a testament to the hours of hard work and dedication he puts in to not just winning games but seeing his student-athletes succeed both on and off the field. Coach Marshall is not one to want the spotlight centered on him but he deserves the recognition for the incredible work that he does representing our football program, athletics department and the university as a whole." 

This is the first time since the award was first handed out that a coach has won in back-to-back years.

Frank Tindall Trophy / Trophée Frank Tindall :

Greg Marshall, @WesternMustangs

Congratulations! / Félicitations !#ChaseTheGlory | #ViserHaut pic.twitter.com/37DrawBsoj

— U SPORTS (@USPORTSca) November 22, 2019

The Mustangs were also well represented in the 1st and 2nd Team All-Canadians classes. On top of Merchant being named a 1st Team All-Canadian at QB, Bleska Kambamba was also recognized as a 1st Team All-Star at Corner and Marc Liegghio was recognized as a 1st Team All-Star as a punter and place kicker. On the 2nd Team All-Star's, 2nd year offensive lineman Zack Fry recognized at Tackle and Brett Ellerman at receiver. 

"Getting two All-Canadian awards is something you can only dream of and it feels pretty good" said Liegghio "Watching all of our team win awards tonight, Merch with the Hec Crighton and Coach Marshall with the Coach of the Year just shows what Western is all about"

"In my first year I told the veterans of the team that I was going to be a First Team All-Canadian and I had to live up to that throughout my time at Western and to see it come to fruition tonight" said Kambamba "There have been so many people that have come along the path and helped me along the way and I just appreciate it so much".

Mustangs rookie Kojo Odoom was a finalist for the Peter Gorman Trophy as Rookie of the Year, The award was won by Jeremy Murphy of Concordia but the future is bright for the Mustangs DB. "That kid works so hard, he's a great guy and he is going to be the leader of our defence for the future. said Kambamba of Odoom "I'm so happy to see him get recognized for what he did this year and there are big things in his future at nights like this".

FIRST TEAM ALL-CANADIANS
 
Offence
 

Pos.	First Name	Last Name	School	Elig.	Hometown
Centre	Connor	Berglof	Saskatchewan	3	Saskatoon, Sask.
Guard	Samuel	Thomassin	Laval	5	Quebec City, Que.
Guard	Mattland	Riley	Saskatchewan	4	Melfort, Sask.
Tackle	Carter	O'Donnell	Alberta	4	Red Deer, Alta.
Tackle	Kétel	Assé	Laval	4	Saint-Marc, Haïti
Receiver	Tyler	Ternowski	Waterloo	4	Hamilton, Ont.
Receiver	James	Tyrrell	Concordia	5	Dorval, Que.
Receiver	Jalen	Philpot	Calgary	2	Delta, B.C.
Receiver	Glodin	Mulali	Acadia	3	Moncton, N.B.
Running Back	Levondre	Gordon	Wilfrid Laurier	5	Mississauga, Ont.
Running Back	Adam	Machart	Saskatchewan	3	Saskatoon, Sask.
Quarterback	Chris	Merchant	Western	5	Calgary, Alta.

 
Defence
 

Pos.	First Name	Last Name	School	Elig.	Hometown
Defensive Tackle	Andrew	Seinet-Spaulding	McGill	4	Pierefonds, Que.
Defensive Tackle	Evan	Machibroda	Saskatchewan	5	Saskatoon, Sask.
Defensive End	Réshaan	Davis	Ottawa	4	Oshawa, Ont.
Defensive End	Derek	Dufault	Manitoba	5	Winnipeg, Man.
Linebacker	Jack	Cassar	Carleton	4	Mississauga, Ont.
Linebacker	Kean	Harelimana	Laval	2	Kigali, Rwanda
Linebacker	Nick	Cross	UBC	2	Regina, Sask.
Free Safety	Jayden	Dalke	Alberta	4	Leduc, Alta.
Half Back	Marc-Antoine	Dequoy	Montreal	4	Île Bizard, Que.
Half Back	Nelson	Lokombo	Saskatchewan	3	Abbotsford, B.C.
Corner	Bleska	Kambamba	Western	4	London, Ont.
Corner	Deane	Leonard	Calgary	3	Calgary, Alta.

 
Special Teams
 

Pos.	First Name	Last Name	School	Elig.	Hometown
Punter	Marc	Liegghio	Western	4	Woodbridge, Ont.
Place Kicker	Marc	Liegghio	Western	4	Woodbridge, Ont.
Kick Returner	Clark	Barnes	Guelph	2	Brampton, Ont.

SECOND TEAM ALL CANADIANS

Offence
 

Pos.	First Name	Last Name	School	Elig.	Hometown
Centre	Samuel	Lefebvre	Laval	4	Saint-Lambert-de-Lauzon, Que.
Guard	Coulter	Woodmansey	Guelph	4	Toronto, Ont.
Guard	Pier-Olivier	Lestage	Montreal	3	Saint-Eustache, Que.
Tackle	Zack	Fry	Western	2	London, Ont.
Tackle	Logan	Bandy	Calgary	3	Calgary, Alta.
Receiver	Brett	Ellerman	Western	4	Calgary, Alta.
Receiver	Will	Corby	Toronto	3	Burlington, Ont.
Receiver	Kevin	Kaya	Montreal	3	Nancy, France
Receiver	Ben	Kopczynski	Alberta	5	Calgary, Alta.
Running Back	Dale	Wright	Acadia	4	Markham, Ont.
Running Back	Félix	Garand-Gauthier	Laval	2	Mirabel, Que.
Quarterback	Tre	Ford	Waterloo	3	Niagara Falls, Ont.

 
Defence
 

Pos.	First Name	Last Name	School	Elig.	Hometown
Defensive Tackle	J-Min	Pelley	Calgary	2	Calgary, Alta.
Defensive Tackle	Cameron	Lawson	Queen's	4	Caledon, Ont.
Defensive End	Samuel	Rossi	Montreal	4	Blainville, Que.
Defensive End	Malcolm	Campbell	Toronto	4	Mississauga, Ont.
Linebacker	Brian	Harelimana	Montreal	4	Laval, Que.
Linebacker	Ben	Hladik	UBC	3	Vernon, B.C.
Linebacker	Bailey	Feltmate	Acadia	4	Moncton, N.B.
Free Safety	Jacob	Janke	York	4	Edmonton, Alta.
Half Back	Noah	Hallett	McMaster	4	London, Ont.
Half Back	Shae	Weekes	Manitoba	3	St. Adolphe, Man.
Corner	Tyrell	Ford	Waterloo	3	Niagara Falls, Ont.
Corner	Antoine	Lyte-Myers	Saint Mary's	5	Scarborough, Ont.

 
Special Teams
 

Pos.	First Name	Last Name	School	Elig.	Hometown
Punter	Keiran	Burnham	StFX	4	Cambridge, Ont.
Place Kicker	Louis	Tardif	Sherbrooke	2	Quebec City, Que.
Kick Returner	Michael	Ritchott	Manitoba	4	Winnipeg, Man.