STATE COLLEGE -- During a few significant moments early on, the annual scrimmage in front of a three-quarters full Beaver Stadium turned into a York County battle.

Defense vs. offense.

William Penn vs. Susquehannock High.

Senior cornerback Knowledge Timmons matched up against sophomore receiver Chaz Powell.

Certainly, the stage was only the Blue-White Game on a summer-like Saturday with players freely switching sides and no-names used throughout and the score quite irrelevant.

Still, the YAIAA rarely boasts two potential marquee players for the Nittany Lions, especially ones who must test each other on a regular basis in practice.

Timmons is the long-time special teams tackling specialist who finally is getting his chance at an every-down position.

Powell is the expected replacement for all-around offensive weapon Derrick Williams.

And the two former York County players got a little one-on-one work against each early in the White team's 21-16 victory over the Blue in front of a spring-game record 76,500 fans.

On a first-quarter play, for instance, Timmons made a tackle on a short catch by Powell -- but claimed that he should have made an interception, if he would have been just a bit more aggressive.

"Me and Chaz had a little bit of a battle, but it's all about us getting better so we can put York on the map," Timmons said.

"He looked over at me a couple of times (on the field)," Powell said with a smile, "but

Susquehannock graduate Chaz Powell brings down a pass during Saturday's Blue-White Game. Powell and Knowledge Timmons turned the spring scrimmage into a York County battle early on with Powell on offense and Timmons on defense. (Daily Record/Sunday News - Jason Plotkin)
I just go out there and do what I'm supposed to do, and he does what he's supposed to do."

Powell, still held back by a recent left ankle sprain, caught two passes for 11 yards and ran once for a 2-yard loss.

Timmons made 3.5 tackles and broke up a pass to tight end Andrew Quarless -- and then gave Quarless a don't-mess-with-me shove after the play.

Though there's still more than four months to go before the season, Timmons has come a long way. He's closer than ever to a starting position now, this coming after off-field problems and being relegated to kickoff and punt coverage through his career.

"You have to pay your dues, man," Timmons said about his four-year wait. "Coach (Joe) Paterno knows what he's doing, so you just have to chill out and wait your turn."

"Knowledge has done well, (but) he's got a way to go yet," Paterno said. "Knowledge is a kid who has a lot of physical ability, but he's never really concentrated on what football is all about in the sense of anticipating things.

"He's a lot of fun to have around. And I think he's got a chance to be good ... He's tough, he tackles, he does a lot of things, but with the way the game is played (today), sideline to sideline ... you've really got to be a student of the game to be a good secondary player.

"And I've been on his back all the time to do some homework."

Meanwhile, Powell has improved, too, since the Rose Bowl. He said he's gotten faster (4.27 second 40-yard time), has better hands for catching the ball and finally knows the offensive playbook inside and out after making the move from defense.

He also has a nice mop of curly hair -- his most plentiful locks since the eighth grade.

"He's a dynamic player, but he really didn't get to showcase what he wanted to today," cornerback A.J. Wallace said. "He's a real quick, in-and-out guy, who likes to make cuts, but he's also strong enough to run somebody over."

Most of the action for Timmons, Powell and the rest of the projected starters came early in the heat, leaving most of the afternoon for the second-, third- and even fourth-stringers to shine.

Returning quarterback Daryll Clark looked sharp and in control, hitting on 10 of his 13

With Chaz Powell, left, looking on, Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark celebrates a touchdown during the second-half of Saturday's action. (Daily Record/Sunday News - Jason Plotkin)
passes for 123 yards. More important, though, was the successful effort turned in by true freshman QB Kevin Newsome. The kid looked poised running and throwing and completed 9-of-13 passes for 71 yards with a touchdown.

Newsome's most visible growing pains seem quite correctable -- a wild sideline pass early and two hanging throws that left his receivers vulnerable to wicked hits.

Other highlights included good receiving days for Quarless and former walk-on wideout Graham Zug, and some nice passing touches displayed by undersized QBs named McGloin and McGregor, who should be no more than footnotes this fall.

It was that kind of a day.

It always is on Blue-White weekend at the end of April.

As the second half wore on, fans lost interest and drifted away to more interesting things around town, and the backups kept filing onto the field.

Even Timmons got into the act, the senior trying to finally make his mark on defense.

He snuck onto the other side of the line and took a handoff and ran for 9 yards.

The serious stuff, they all know, is still more than four months away.
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