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Lions freshman shines in scrimmage

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - All around Beaver Stadium on Saturday, there was plenty of entertainment as part of the Blue-White festivities. Part of the massive parking lot hosted a carnival, and there was a parade of bands.

Quarterback Kevin Newsomeis taken down by Devon Still (71) during the first half of the Penn State Blue-White game. (AP Photo/Ralph Wilson)
Quarterback Kevin Newsomeis taken down by Devon Still (71) during the first half of the Penn State Blue-White game. (AP Photo/Ralph Wilson)Read more

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - All around Beaver Stadium on Saturday, there was plenty of entertainment as part of the Blue-White festivities. Part of the massive parking lot hosted a carnival, and there was a parade of bands.

Still, most in the crowd, estimated to be about 55,000, probably came to see Kevin Newsome and Matt McGloin, sophomores battling for the vacant quarterback position.

That's because the effectiveness of whoever becomes Daryll Clark's replacement will go a long way in determining how successful 2010 will be for Penn State.

It's only spring, but neither quarterback was impressive.

"They're struggling a little bit," coach Joe Paterno conceded during a news conference before the Blue team's 17-3 victory. "We have a lot of talent. . . . We need leadership.

"The quarterbacks have to put together drives like Kerry Collins did when he drove us 95 yards against Illinois [in 1994]. We don't have that."

Some might argue that Penn State does have that - in freshman quarterback Paul Jones. But Paterno doesn't like to play true freshmen. In fact, Wally Richardson, in 1992, was the last true freshman quarterback to start.

Jones, a former Sto-Rox High standout who enrolled at Penn State in January, outplayed Newsome and McGloin on Saturday.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder completed 5 of 8 passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns against mostly second- and third-stringers. The 17-year-old threw the game's only two touchdown passes, 18-yarders to wideout Shawney Kersey.

Newsome, a 6-2, 220-pounder who backed up Clark last season, finished 5 for 12 for 50 yards in the scrimmage. The dual-threat quarterback was sacked three times.

Several of his incompletions sailed 10 to 15 yards ahead of his targets.

Asked to grade his performance, Newsome said, "I would put L.W. - a lot of work to do." He said he needed to work on his consistency.

McGloin completed 10 of 23 passes for 110 yards and two interceptions. The former walk-on - 6-1 and 204 pounds - nearly had three other passes intercepted.

"You can always get better," McGloin said. "The Blue-White game, a lot of eyes were on us today. We didn't perform maybe up to par with what people expected to see. But [Sunday] morning, Kevin and myself, the other quarterbacks are going to go into the film room. We are going to watch things and try to get better."

Senior linebacker Bani Gbadyu was presented the Jim O'Hora award, which goes to the spring's most improved defensive player. Redshirt junior offensive lineman Quinn Barham and fifth-year senior wideout Brett Brackett shared the Red Worrell award, given to the most improved offensive player.

Senior linebacker Chris Colasanti and redshirt junior Andrew Szczerba shared the Frank Patrick award, which recognizes the most commitment to the program.

Notes. Senior tailback Evan Royster, who had a light workload all spring, sat out Saturday's game for precautionary reasons. . . . Running back Michael Zordich, punter Anthony Fera, and redshirt sophomore tight end Mark Wedderburn, a Cardinal O'Hara graduate, did not dress for disciplinary reasons. Zordich, a redshirt sophomore, was charged with underage drinking this month in State College. In a separate incident this month, Fera also was cited for underage drinking. Wedderburn's infraction wasn't disclosed.