Fratmen have question mark at game’s top position
Windsor squad will start OFC season with a newcomer under centre
It has been half a decade since Windsor AKO Fratmen head coach Mike LaChance has had to break in a freshman quarterback. That was in 2013, when Austin Lumley eventually earned the starter’s job and won three titles in his four seasons with the club. Veteran Brandon Reaume also earned a title in his final season with the Fratmen last season.
“I would say quarterback is the biggest question,” LaChance said as he opened training camp. That’s not to say LaChance, who is entering his 16th season as head coach, doesn’t have options, but it won’t be a veteran.
Colton Allen, who started a pair of games for the University of Windsor Lancers, will battle Dan Mailloux, who just finished his season with the Essex Ravens, to be the starter when the club opens the Ontario Football Conference season on Aug. 18 against Hamilton. “I can win with them, it’s no different from the past, but I’ve been spoiled,” LaChance said. “I’ve always seemed to have a veteran there.”
A Kennedy high school product, the 19-year-old Allen has the upper hand when it comes to experience. As a freshman, the six-foot-three, 185-pound Allen started two games for the Lancers after Sam Girard went down with an injury. He completed 27 of 49 passes for 262 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
“We had the worst record in the league last year and I still felt my game improved monumentally,” Allen said. “It’s just tremendous how much my game has improved. “I was lucky enough to have two starts my first year. I had great teammates and learned an unbelievable amount. If I can take that and play here and what I learned at the university, it’ll be something special.”
With Girard back with the Lancers and Western University transfer Ben Bergamin also in the picture, Allen wasn’t sure how much playing time he would see this year at the university level.
“I thought AKO was going to be more enjoyable for myself, and I thought I was going to have more fun and achieve something whether it be a ring or just a fun season with some teammates,” Allen said. “All of these guys I’ve played high school with, against them or with them, for Ravens or house league. It’s kind of nice to get to come back and play with some of the same guys.”
A Vista Academy high school product, the 18-year-old Mailloux was also considering heading to the University of Windsor, but an open quarterback competition brought him to AKO. “Coaches and the Lancers tried to talk to me, but AKO sold it more and I thought it was a better fit coming out of high school,” the six-foot-three, 185-pound Mailloux said. “It’s bigger people and faster football, but I’m usually a quick learner and hope I can catch on faster.”
At first, a battle’s a battle, but then a friendship forms a bit. I want to start. I want to lead this team and win some games.
While Lumley and Reaume had great scrambling ability, Allen and Mailloux are very similar in that their game is more suited to pocket passing.
“You want to keep it simple,” Lachance said. “It’s beneficial when you have a defence that you can trust, like we do, and you don’t have to be afraid to punt it because the defence is so good.
“The most important thing you want to teach a young kid is that you’re not going to get pulled for an interception. Be aggressive because I want guys to be great, but I’m more concerned with guys that are careless. There’s a fine line there.”
For now, the two have a few weeks to learn the playbook, get comfortable with teammates and try to get the upper hand.
“At first, a battle’s a battle, but then a friendship forms a bit,” Mailloux said of the competition with Allen. “I want to start. I want to lead this team and win some games. It’s whoever shines bright each day and makes an impact.”