Clark plays well in Penn St. game

The quarterback from Ursuline was 9-for-16 for 106 yards and two TDs.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Finally, Penn State played football.

The band played the fight song, 73,000 fans filled the Beaver Stadium stands on a sunny afternoon and the mascot paraded up and down the field.

After an offseason full of talk about suspensions and Joe Paterno’s future, the Nittany Lions donned their pads and helmets Saturday and impressed their ardent fans — even if it was only the spring scrimmage.

“Any time you can get out in front of people like that and show your stuff, it’s very exciting,” quarterback Daryll Clark said. “The icing on this cake is that you’re playing for Joe Paterno.”

The question this fall is exactly which quarterback Paterno will pick to lead the offense — Clark, the Ursuline High graduate, or Pat Devlin. Each tried Saturday to make an impression on their coach.

Devlin, who will be a sophomore this fall, was 8-of-13 for 62 yards, including a nice throw down the seam to hit tight end Andrew Szczerba on the fly. He’s also got impressive scholastic credentials, given the fact that he holds the Pennsylvania high school career record for passing yardage. Teammates have said he can move out of the pocket, too, though Clark is the better runner.

But if history is any indication, Paterno may be leaning more toward Clark, a senior this fall who has a polished off-field presence. Clark said he’s been getting some tips on handling the pressure from Michael Robinson, the run-pass quarterback who led the 2005 Nittany Lions to a Big Ten title.

Clark, like Robinson, is known for his running ability. He hopes he’s impressed fans with his passing prowess, too, after going 9-of-16 for 106 yards and two touchdowns Saturday. He hit receiver Derrick Williams in stride on one nice throw down the left sideline for a touchdown.