CALZADA HANDED KEYS TO GALAXY’S PLAYOFF PUSH

Frankfurt Galaxy have made a late change at quarterback in an attempt to secure one of the two remaining places at the EFA’s inaugural BIG4 weekend.

Zach Calzada will make his Galaxy debut against Nordic Storm at the PSD Bank Arena on Sunday after replacing Ethan Garbers, whose departure follows a difficult three-game stretch for the Frankfurt offense.

The timing leaves Calzada with little opportunity to settle before being asked to influence the playoff race. Frankfurt enter the final fortnight with a 3-5 record and occupy third place, behind confirmed qualifiers Nordic and Munich Ravens, as four teams remain in contention for the last two BIG4 berths. Calzada’s road begins with the Galaxy hosting the Storm before completing their schedule on the road against Prague Lions.

Calzada arrives with considerably more experience than the usual late-season import. The 25-year-old appeared for Texas A&M, Auburn, Incarnate Word and Kentucky during a seven-year college career, completing 759 of 1,221 passes for 8,945 yards, 73 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. His most productive spell came at Incarnate Word, where he amassed 6,342 passing yards and 54 touchdowns across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The latter campaign brought 3,744 yards and 35 scores as Calzada helped the Cardinals reach the FCS playoff quarter-finals. He subsequently transferred to Kentucky and started twice during the 2025 season, with Kentucky Athletics listing his overall college record as 24-10 across 34 starts.

Calzada is perhaps best remembered for his time at Texas A&M, particularly a 2021 victory over top-ranked Alabama in which he threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns. Frankfurt will now hope that experience allows him to absorb a new offence quickly enough to make an immediate difference. Sunday’s assignment is demanding. Nordic arrive in Frankfurt with their BIG4 place already secured and the EFA’s leading passer, receiver and rusher in QB Jadrian Clark, WR Brendan Beaulieu and RB Glen Toonga respectively.

Galaxy can nevertheless draw encouragement from the teams’ first meeting. Although Nordic won 20-12 in Copenhagen in Week 5, Frankfurt held the Storm to their lowest score of the season. Repeating that defensive performance would ease the burden on Calzada as he takes control of an offense still being introduced to him.

Kick-off at the PSD Bank Arena is scheduled for 1pm local time on Sunday, August 2nd.