Young QB maturing with Mustangs

Moncton Mustangs quarterback Donovan Boucher believes he can often read the mind of head coach Rob Weir.

[url]http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/sports/article/1109751

As the team pursues its fourth straight Maritime Football League championship, the connection between quarterback and coach is working perfectly.

“We both want to see the offence operate the same way,” said Boucher, a 22-year-old computer science student at Acadia University.

“We both want to see the same things so Rob doesn’t have to worry about what I’m doing out there,” he said. “Most of the time, he lets me call my own plays and he worries about other things and not the way the offence is going.”

The Mustangs put their 3-0 record on the line tomorrow when they square off against the Halifax Shockers, who are 2-1. Game time is 4 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field in Moncton.

Boucher was a standout quarterback with the Harrison Trimble Trojans before joining the Acadia Axemen. He was also a quarterback with the Axemen before he was moved to receiver for two seasons.

He was also a receiver in the senior league for a couple of years before the Mustangs gave him the quarterback’s job last year. He hasn’t looked back.

“He’s really maturing in the role and he’s become a leader on the team,” Weir said. “He plays with a lot of confidence and he gives a lot of confidence to his teammates. They realize he can take charge.”

Boucher, who will graduate from Acadia in December, has enjoyed his return to his position behind centre.

“I’ve always liked quarterback because I like the responsibility that goes with it,” Boucher said. “It was fun as a receiver, but it’s not the same as being the quarterback. I have more control over what’s going on as the quarterback.”

The Mustangs have outscored opponents 73-37 during the first three games of the season and that includes a 30-12 decision over the Shockers in their first meeting in early June.

“We had a pretty good game that day and I don’t think we saw Halifax at their best so I expect they will come at us hard,” Weir said. “They’ve got a lot of good athletes and they will play with a lot of pride so we have to be ready for them.”

Boucher said the Mustangs have been able to mix up their offence successfully this season.

“Traditionally, we’ve been known as a team that likes to eat up the clock and grind out a running game,” the quarterback said.

“We’ve still got that ability, but we can also move the ball in the air, too. Teams can’t just focus on stopping the run. Our defence has also been amazing so we’ve had a complete team effort this year.”

In other games scheduled for tomorrow, the Prince Edward Island Privateers (1-2) host the Saint John Wanderers (2-1) and the Capital Area Gladiators of Fredericton (visit) the Dartmouth Knights (2-1).

PICTURE: Moncton Mustangs’ starting QB Donovan Boucher runs some drills during a practice at Harrison Trimble High School field last night. This being Boucher’s second year as a starting QB for the Mustangs, all eyes are on him.