UNIVERSITY PARK -- The sprained knee he sustained a month ago could turn out to be a positive thing for Penn State quarterback Zack Mills.
Mills sat out two games with the injury and watched backup Michael Robinson take over. Saturday, Mills started and played the entire game in the 21-20 loss against No. 8 Ohio State.
Mills completed 27 of 42 passes for 253 yards and one touchdown. He was intercepted once and sacked once.
"When I was out with the injury, I was able to put some things in perspective," Mills said. "Prior to that, I think I was worrying about some things I couldn't control -- and that's as far as I'm going to go with that."
Mills did not say what -- or who -- was the cause of his problems. But, he seems to have worked out whatever issues were troubling him.
"I was able to sit back and re-assess some things, and just go out and play and have fun," he said. "The past two games now, I've done that."
The 27 completions are a career high for Mills and the third-highest single-game total in team history. Mills has 406 career completions, tops in the Penn State record book.
Mills also moved into second place in career total offense with 5,482 yards. He passed Kerry Collins, who had 5,300 yards.
And by reaching 4,973 career passing yards, Mills slipped past Todd Blackledge (4,812) into fourth place in team history.
Mills did not find out he would start against Ohio State until Friday afternoon, although he had a sense he would get the call.
"I probably took 60 percent of the snaps with the first team," he said. "So, I had a hunch."
JOEPA GOES RAH-RAH
Penn State coach Joe Paterno got rowdy Friday night during the "Rally in the Valley" pep rally on campus. Paterno gave a fiery speech to the fans and reportedly twirled his sport coat in the air.
"Was it madness?" Paterno said, grinning. "I think most people know I like this team.
"We've had our problems and we've had kids who have stepped out of line. We've had to deal with that, but overall they're a real good football team. I wanted to have that rally so they would understand that everybody out there is not critical of them, that they have a lot of fans."
Paterno hyped the rally often during his call-in radio show Thursday night. The players appreciated his effort, and the large turnout.
"It showed that most of our fans are still with us, even if some are not," lineman Charles Rush said.
"He's just trying to get everyone to rally around us," Mills said.
LOCAL GUYS
Mark Farris (North Hills) has moved to second on the depth chart at left guard behind Rush. Farris was bumped up last week after Tommy McHugh, who was cited for underage drinking and harassment, was kicked off the team.
Farris' promotion gives the backup offensive line even more of a WPIAL flavor. Right guard Nick Marmo (New Castle) and left tackle Andrew Richardson (North Hills) already were on the unit.
INJURY REPORT
Josh Hannum did not play after sustaining a back injury last week in practice. He had been slated to back up Maurice Humphrey at split end. ... Wideout Gerald Smith sustained a head injury when he was blind-sided by safety Nate Salley. Smith left the game late in the second quarter and did not return.
NITTANY NOTES
The last three Penn State-Ohio State games have been decided by a total of nine points. ... Ten of Penn State's last 13 losses have come by eight points or less. ... Wideout Terrance Phillips made the first reception of his career. Fullback Sean McHugh caught his first career TD pass. ... Linebacker Gino Capone tied a season high with 14 tackles.
