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Junior quarterback Blake Frohnapfel drops back to pass during training camp practice on Aug. 4, 2014.

(Daniel Malone | MassLive.com)

AMHERST – After a two-week training camp battle, Blake Frohnapfel has officially been named the University of Massachusetts football team's starting quarterback for the team's upcoming season opener against Boston College.

Coach Mark Whipple announced the decision at practice Monday, ending a quarterback competition between Frohnapfel and incumbent starter A.J. Doyle that had been brewing since Frohnapfel joined the team as a transfer from Marshall University back in February.

"Over the course of my career, I've been really hoping for this. I'm glad I have the chance to start my first college game," Frohnapfel said. "It'll be my first start, so there's a certain pressure there. But it's something I've been excited for for a long time."

Whipple liked the way both quarterbacks responded to the situation, but said "A.J. played good, Froh just played a little better."

"Those guys have been competing all the way through," he said. "It's a real good room, (quarterbacks) coach Liam Coen has done a good job."

Whipple approached Frohnapfel in private following the team's scrimmage on Saturday to share the good news.

"He said 'This is your team, embrace it and start leading this guys. We have a big game coming up, be ready for it,'" said Frohnapfel, who characterized the competition between he and Doyle as "friendly and easy-going."

"It's really been very competitive with the fact that we've been competing every day and had a give and take with who was doing what," he said. "It was never mean-hearted in any way at all."

Slightly behind Doyle and the rest of his teammates after missing out on spring practices because of academic obligations back at Marshall, Frohnapfel started slowly. After the first day of camp he looked like a newcomer breaking in new team and said afterwards that he felt a little rusty.

But it wasn't long before he picked up the pace and settled into a comfort zone.

"There were times were when I'd think maybe I'd have shot here, but other days when I'd be sitting in my room and kind of unsure about what I'm doing," he said. "More towards the end, when I kind of got a little more comfortable and started to take a leadership role, I felt more comfortable with being in the No. 1 spot."

A 6-foot-6, 230-pound junior, Frohnapfel spent the first three years of his career as a backup behind former Conference USA MVP Rakeem Cato.In 11 games, he completed 35 of 45 passes (77.8 percent) for 386 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. On the ground, he piled up 164 yards and a pair of long touchdowns on 24 carries.

Doyle will serve as the team's primary backup to begin the season. He started nine games last year, completing 54.5 percent of his attempts with six touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Behind him, redshirt freshman Austin Whipple is expected to take third-string reps.

Doyle, who was beaten out for the starting job by former UMass quarterback Mike Wegzyn during the previous two training camps, said the move to go with Frohnapfel "wasn't for me to decide."

"It was coach Whipple's decision. He's got to do what he feels is best for the team," he said. "Froh competed well. It was tough competition."

Though the competition is over, Doyle knows his work to improve his play and the team is not.

"Anything can happen. Froh could go the entire season or Froh could go one play. I obviously don't hope something like that happens, but it's a real possibility," he said. "So I have to continue to prepare and do everything that I can to just be ready when my name's called."