The Penn State offense can finally be proud, sort of.

Against an Ohio State defense ranked No. 3 nationally, the Nittany Lions were able to throw the ball for 253 yards and converted more than half of their third-down opportunities.

While Penn State lost the game, quarterback Zack Mills said the game was a great chance to get back into a rhythm and helped the Lions gain some confidence that they could move the football.

In the midst of a season in which he has suffered through a knee injury that caused him to miss two games and an even bigger battle with Michael Robinson for the starting spot, Mills completed a career-high 27 passes.

He also tossed his third touchdown pass of the season, his second consecutive game with a scoring toss.

He was reluctant to take much credit for the performance, however.

"I'd say a lot of it goes to the receivers," Mills said. "I thought I put the ball in an area for them to make some plays. There are times when I didn't, but they made plays."

Now, facing a game against Northwestern where the Lions will play for little more than pride, the passing game is finally beginning to improve. When it looked as if the receivers and quarterbacks were playing together in a 379-yard passing performance against Wisconsin, the Lions failed to reach 150 yards in either of the next two games.

A large part of that struggle was blamed on inexperienced receivers and poor route running. Another part of the problem was an uncertain quarterback situation that still is far from settled, Mills said.

Though Mills took every offensive snap under center against the Buckeyes, he said that Penn State football coach Joe Paterno was staying with him because he was able to move the ball.

Paterno said Tuesday that Robinson's talent makes it hard to leave the sophomore on the sideline.

"Mike is just too good of a football player and probably in a couple of spots on Saturday against Ohio State he may have been able to help us a little bit more," Paterno said. "The game was going back and forth and was a tough football game. We were trying to do the best we could for the football team."

As for Mills, he is getting ready to take on Northwestern and a porous pass defense.

The Wildcats are ranked 74th nationally and allow an average of 232.89 yards per game.

"I have to prepare myself the same way I did against Ohio State, which is watching a lot of tape," Mills said. "They joke, like in the Austin Powers movie, and say I've got my mojo back. I feel like everything is coming around. I just feel everything starting to come together, but also for everyone else."

That included breakout performances by redshirt freshmen Maurice Humphrey and Terrance Phillips. The two wideouts filled in well in the

absence of Tony Johnson, who was suspended for the game, and Gerald Smith, who left the game after sustaining a concussion in the second quarter.

Humphrey caught seven passes for 64 yards while Phillips had two receptions for 47 yards.

While the receivers were making plays, however, the running game was struggling. The Lions managed just 33 yards rushing on 27 carries and never could get past a quick Ohio State front seven. Paterno said, however, the overall offense continues to progress.

And that progress came down to Mills' performance on Saturday.

"Zack has always been a guy that I have felt was a coach's quarterback," Paterno said. "I have always felt that he was smart, could take advantage of the opportunities that were available to him."

That may be enough to carry the pride for another week.