Increased police presence in State College, specifically in the East Beaver Avenue area commonly known as "Beaver Canyon," kept this weekend safe and unfettered by riotious activity, the State College Police Department said.

And upcoming football weekends could see police taking the same type of precautions.

"We're going to look at each weekend and determine what the risk is," Cpl. Mark Argiro said. "I think (there will be increased police presence) whenever we deem the weekend as an at-risk weekend."

With about 200 officers on patrol this weekend, including state troopers and several officers from other Centre County precincts, Argiro said maintaining the peace was not a difficult task.

"We were very happy with the weekend," he said. "We were pleased everyone behaved themselves."

In addition, alternative activities sponsored by Penn State, as well as the Fifth Quarter Servants, a local ministry, went a long way toward maintaining order in "Beaver Canyon," Argiro said.

"It helps immensely when you have an older crowd out there," Argiro said, in regards to the Fifth Quarter Servants. "Alternative activities and extra officers out really help keep everything under control."

More than 100 Pennsylvania State Police troopers, 12 mounted patrols, as well as officers from Ferguson and Patton townships, aided State College police this weekend.

Cpl. David White, also of the State College police, said that while Friday night was busy and active, Saturday night was closer to the activity level the department would expect on a non-football weekend.

This was not a surprise, White said.

"Typically, Friday night is busier anyway, because everyone has extra energy in anticipation of the game," he said.

While the State College police maintained order downtown, Penn State Police Services concentrated on the activity at Beaver Stadium, said Officer Robert Jeter.

"Our primary focus was just (at the stadium) because of the night game," Jeter said. "We were mainly concentrating on maintaining a safe area out there."

The day was a hectic one for Penn State police, but there was little trouble, Jeter said.

"The day was a little busier than the games from last year, but nothing terribly bad happened," he said.

Penn State police, however, were on call in the event that trouble broke out downtown.

"If State College (police) had needed us, we would have been down there," Jeter said.

Collaboration such as this is what State College police anticipate will quell the possibility of future disturbances.

In addition to support from the state police, other township departments and Penn State police, the department will continue to use mounted patrols and added police on patrol in "Beaver Canyon" on high-risk weekends.

These added precautions include police officers stationed on top of "Beaver Canyon" apartment buildings, as they were this weekend.

"The people on the roof are looking mostly for major violations," Argiro said. "In the event of a disturbance, they are there to radio down to people on the street (so those officers) can clear out people on the balconies."

Once it was clear Penn State would not come out on top of Saturday's game, Argiro said police were able to breathe a little easier.

"We knew really early it wasn't going to be a celebratory crowd," he said.

In addition, he said in some cases, students welcome an added police presence.

"The vast majority of people know they can have a good time without causing trouble," Argiro said. "Very few kids who walk by (police on the street) complain. Most kids just feel better with a police presence."