San Diego State Football: Freshman quarterback Nick Bawden will start against New Mexico, Quinn Kaehler still injured

According to the U-T San Diego's Tod Leonard, SDSU head coach Rocky Long said freshman quarterback Nick Bawden will start for the second consecutive week this Friday at New Mexico. Quinn Kaehler is still unable to play due to a shoulder injury he suffered against UNLV.

SDSU's Rocky Long says Quinn Kaehler won't play on Friday vs. NM. FR Nick Bawden to start again after mostly poor effort vs. Fresno State

— Tod Leonard (@sdutleonard) October 6, 2014

Bawden made his first career NCAA start last Friday when SDSU lost 24-13 at Fresno State in the annual Battle for the Oil Can. He struggled for most of the game, completing only nine of 24 passes for 84 yards, one touchdown and two critical interceptions late in the fourth quarter. He did, however, run the ball well, taking it out of the pocket eight times for 36 yards. He also orchestrated a veteran-looking 14-play touchdown drive to open the fourth quarter.

Even if Kaehler was okay to play, SDSU would have no doubt relied on the run in Albuquerque, as the Lobos have the third-worst run defense in the country.

Bawden now has his first game--and possibly his first-game jitters--out of the way, so it's fair to assume that he'll perform better this Saturday.

"I think Nick's going to have a wonderful career as a quarterback," senior offensive lineman Terry Poole said after the game last Friday. "It's his first game. You have minor mistakes and you pull it together."