Calzada makes 1st start as No. 7 Texas A&M hosts New Mexico

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Coach Jimbo Fisher insists that things won’t be much different for No. 7 Texas A&M this week with quarterback Zach Calzada making his first career start in place of Haynes King.

“We’ll feature things he does, but we won’t change a lot,” Fisher said.

Calzada was thrust into the job last weekend against Colorado when King was injured on Texas A&M’s second possession. King had surgery this week to repair a broken right leg, leaving Calzada to start Saturday against New Mexico.

Calzada and King competed for the job throughout camp and Fisher said King had only a slight edgewhen he was named the starter for Week 1.

Calzada had trouble moving the offense against the Buffaloes and lost a fumble near the goal line with about nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. But he rebounded to throw an 18-yard touchdown with 2:41 left to give the Aggies a 10-7 victory.

Fisher believes that the adversity will help Calzada as he moves into the starting role. He was asked what he hopes the sophomore learned from that experience.

“It means that I can,” Fisher said. “The more he played, the more it slowed down. The more he saw it, the more plays he was able to make.”

This game is Texas A&M’s final non-conference tuneup before the Aggies open Southeastern Conference play Sept. 25 against No. 20 Arkansas. They’re looking to extend their winning streak to 11 games and post their first 3-0 start since opening the 2016 season with six consecutive wins.

New Mexico is also 2-0 entering this game after beating rival New Mexico State 34-25 last week.

“We’re going against ... one of the best football teams in the country in one of the hardest environments to play,” coach Danny Gonzales said. “That’s fun. That’s why you do this.”

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