Afterward, Mills handled questions from the media with the same cool he used during the busted play-turned big gainer to Luke.
"I picked it up and I didn't see anyone immediately coming after me," he said. "So I just rolled to my left and R.J. was wide open."
Mills replaced Lions starter Matt Senneca on Penn State's second series, and picked up right where he left off at the end of the Northwestern game, connecting on his first six tosses.
"Matt had a chance to make a couple plays and didn't make them," said Penn State football coach Joe Paterno. "So I said 'Let's see what Zack can do.' I had intended to play both Matt and Zack. Zack played so well I just thought I had to stay with him."
It was a decision that likely earned the 74-year-old coach his record-breaking 324th career victory. Senneca, who has been plagued by a number of injuries this season, has played well, but the offense is unmistakably a different unit with Mills under center.
"I haven't seen that kind of composure since. . .shoot, maybe Kerry Collins," Iorio said. "He's got all the tools. He's got the prettiest pass I've ever seen, and he's an all-around incredible player."
In addition to leading the Lions to 531 total yards, their highest offensive output since the Akron game in 1999, Mills had the first 100-yard game by a Penn State player this season. He completed 17 of 32 passes, two of them for touchdowns. Mills did throw three interceptions, but one came on a Hail Mary pass in the closing seconds of the first half, and the other was off a tipped ball.
The freshman's calm demeanor and precise passing led the Lions during four drives of 60 yards or more. His lone mental error came during Penn State's final possession, when he took a sack instead of throwing the ball away, adding 13 yards to Robbie Gould's field goal try, which sailed wide right and gave the Buckeyes one last shot.
"When they drove the ball down there, I was sick to my stomach," Mills said. "It was a screen pass, and it got clogged up. I should have just thrown it away."
Considering his performance, Mills would assuredly be the starter for nearly any other coach. However, Paterno is not any other coach, and he may be likely to continue with his propensity to start the upperclassman Senneca.
But regardless of who starts, you can bet Mills will see significant time Saturday against Southern Mississppi. Players like him don't come along that often, and the Lions know it.
"I can't explain his play," said wide receiver Tony Johnson. "To do what he did today was just unreal."
