Offense struggles badly in UAlbany football scrimmage

University at Albany sophomore quarterback Neven Sussman threw incompletions on eight of his final nine passes in Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage that closed training camp at Casey Stadium.

When it was over, UAlbany head coach Greg Gattuso declared Sussman the starter for the season opener at the University of Buffalo on Sept. 2.

The Great Danes are running out of time with only 12 days remaining until they step up to face the Bulls of the Football Bowl Subdivision, a team that trounced UAlbany 51-14 to start last season.

Sussman entered camp as the No. 1 quarterback and beat out redshirt junior DJ Crook, who started the first seven games last season before losing his job to Sussman because of ineffectiveness.

Third-string quarterback Will Brunson, a redshirt freshman, actually had the most productive day of the three.

Brunson accounted for the scrimmage's only touchdown when he tossed a 2-yard scoring pass to Roberson on fourth down.

Running back Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks was held out for rest, and starting left tackle Kevin Malloy and center Adam Wierbinski only played about 10 snaps each before Gattuso rotated in younger players for development.

UAlbany's first two drives of the scrimmage ended on lost fumbles by redshirt sophomore running back Kjaye Rodgers Jr. and redshirt senior Power Lawrence.