The Penn State secondary intercepted as many passes during the Blue-White game Saturday as they did all last season.

Which tells you about all you need to know about the play of the Penn State quarterbacks. On a slick Beaver Stadium field, neither offense could generate persistent pressure as cornerbacks were feasting on errant throws and slip-sliding receivers.

"It was difficult to go deep because they just kept the safeties back in the zone," Blue starter Zack Mills said. "The linebackers were dropping back and there were a lot of bodies back there. The receivers didn't have much of a chance."

Mills looked confident in completing 12 of 15 passes, including 10 of his first 11, for a game-high 113 yards. Michael Robinson came out firing in his Penn State debut, attempting 33 passes. He completed just 10 and often short-armed passes, skipping them just in front of his receiver.

"I was nervous," Robinson said. "I didn't want to mess up. Finally, Jay Paterno said to me 'We know what you can do. You don't have to impress anybody.' "

The biggest surprise of the day came when Chris Ganter proved Joe Paterno right. During his pre-game post conference, the 74-year old coach said that Ganter was "a lot better than people think he is."

Ganter went out and completed 10 of 19 for 77 yards and, most importantly, two touchdown passes, the only such on the day.

"There are things I could have done better," the son of assistant head coach Fran Ganter said. "But it was important for me to go out and show people what I'm all about and what I can do."

The much-heralded debut of fellow redshirt freshman Robinson came with the first snap of the game. During his opening series, Robinson looked nervous and forced his passes, missing wideout Tony Johnson three times. Robinson fumbled on third-and-ten, forcing White to kick it away.

Mills took the field and immediately made it clear how much he had missed fullback Sean McHugh. Within the first two series, he found the junior four times for 27 yards, mostly on short dump passes. Ganter took over for Mills at the beginning of the second quarter and found tight end Andrew Richardson in the middle of the end zone for a two-yard completion.

On his next drive, Ganter swung passes to running backs Munya Maraire and Aric Heffelfinger for 11 and nine yards before finding receiver Ernie Terrell in the end zone.

"They made a lot of plays," Mills said of Robinson and Ganter. "Most of their turnovers weren't their fault."

Robinson threw two picks and Ganter had three.

Mills himself had a pass picked when Richard Gardner broke off his man and stepped in front of the intended receiver.

Redshirt freshman Tom Lundquist backed up Robinson and attempted just three passes, completing none of them.

Even though the quarterbacks' numbers collectively mirrored the dismal weather, no one is worried.

"All of them played well," tackle Matt Schmitt said. "It was a tough situation but all of them handled it well. We all know what Zack can do. The young guys showed today what they're going to be capable of if they keep working."