Fans looking for a clean, fundamentally sound Blue-White game on Saturday were instead treated to a mistake-filled scrimmage.

The Blue team took the game, 23-7, in front of an estimated 26,000 fans, by committing fewer errors than the White team.

The rainy skies disappeared for most of the game, but the dark clouds that hovered over the Penn State football team's performance would not.

The teams committed six turnovers and had just 474 total yards combined. Some of that poor play could be attributed to many regulars missing the game or playing limited minutes. Senior fullback Paul Jefferson did not play due to a possible involvement in an off-campus fight.

Lions fans held their breath when senior offensive tackle Chris McKelvy had to be helped off the field. McKelvy was on crutches after the game, but said the injury is nothing serious.

"They are pretty sure [it's not too serious], but just in case they are going to take some MRI's," McKelvy said.

Most of the scoring took place during the first quarter, when both teams looked their best. Junior quarterback Zack Mills, who threw for 105 yards, hit sophomore wideout Kinta Palmer for a 57-yard touchdown late in the first quarter for his only touchdown pass of the game.

Palmer looked impressive, using his great size to his advantage, while fellow wideout Ernie Terrell, who had three catches for 56 yards, showed his blinding speed and improved hands. Palmer's performance was inspired by former Lions wideout Bryant Johnson.

"Bryant Johnson was my mentor," Palmer said. "A couple of weeks ago he told me, 'I want you to break my records. I want you to be better than me.' "

Mills was not without struggles as he was intercepted by junior Chris Harrell in the end zone and underthrew Tony Johnson on a flea-flicker when Johnson had his defender clearly beaten.

Sophomore quarterback Michael Robinson, who threw for 141 yards, led a pair of scoring drives of his own, one for Blue and one for White. His 1-yard touchdown run was the only score of the day for the White team. He also threw a 1-yard touchdown on a fade where Palmer climbed the ladder to haul it in. Robinson made a bad read at the end of the first quarter, which resulted in an interception by redshirt freshman Jim Kanuch.

"They are both [Mills and Robinson] competitors," Johnson said. "Both of them are going to compete. Zack's our starting quarterback, but Mike is going to push him every bit of the way."

The question at running back wasn't cleared up as Mike Gasparato led the team in rushing with 62 yards, but no running back looked overly impressive. Running back Ricky Upton did not play, but is also in the running for the spot. After the game Gasparato said he didn't expect a starting running back to be named until closer to the start of the season.

With the exception of a few plays by Terrell, the Blue secondary shut down the White team's passing attack. White team quarterbacks went just 10-for-29 and had three interceptions. Sophomores Calvin Lowry and Alan Zemaitis, along with senior Rich Gardner, played a good portion of the game and looked solid in the secondary.

The second half saw few highlights as it was mostly quarterbacked by sophomore Chris Ganter and four walk-ons. Ganter ran for his life most of the time he was in and went just 4-for-11, including an interception. No offensive scoring took place in the second half, but the Blue squad's Nolan McCready made a nice interception of a Greg Hennigar pass and returned it 60 yards to the end zone to cap the scoring.

Notes: Wide receiver Gerald Smith [knee], linebacker LaMar Stewart [shoulder], safety Yaacov Yisreal [knee], wide receiver Josh Hannum [ankle], and running back BranDon Snow [knee] all missed the game due to injuries. Stewart had two surgeries in the offseason and Yisrael missed all of last season with a torn ACL in his left knee. He has been practicing this spring.

Michael Robinson chipped his two front teeth when Lavon Chisley hit him despite Robinson wearing the red jersey that meant he wasn't supposed to be hit.