Zack Miller, a proud Texas transplant and rodeo guide, entered Thursday night’s Wheel of Fortune episode with an energy that instantly lit up the stage. Known back home in Houston for introducing newcomers to their first rodeo and crafting his own margarita-inspired ice cream flavor, he faced opponents Kesha Corbin of Virginia and Chicago designer Mary Tolmer. Miller wasted no time setting the tone, snapping up the first toss-up puzzle, “Staying the Course,” before outmaneuvering his competitors again in the opening round with a decisive solve of “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.” With $2,400 already banked and momentum firmly on his side, he headed into the next rounds looking unstoppable.

The Mystery Round only widened Miller’s lead. With sharp confidence, he solved “Tuning Fork in the Road,” adding a hefty $11,000 to his total. His winning streak continued with the Prize Puzzle, where “Tranquil Desert Oasis” earned him even more cash and an enviable trip to Morocco, bringing his total to $22,740. The Triple Toss-Up series brought brief wins for his competitors, but Miller reclaimed control with two fast solves. Tolmer’s later win, “Whatever Will Be Will Be,” brought her to $10,000 for the night, while Corbin finished with the $1,000 consolation prize.

Miller entered the Bonus Round with $26,740 guaranteed, cheered on by his mom Ellen and his boyfriend Stephen. Choosing M, C, P, and A to pair with the standard letters, he faced the final challenge: _ _ _ A_E T _ _C_S. As the clock ticked, he cycled through guesses — “Big Game to Focus,” “Big Wave to Focus,” “Something Focus” — all circling the right idea but never landing on it. Host Ryan Seacrest revealed the answer: “You Have to Focus,” a solve worth an additional $55,000.

Though the missed puzzle kept him from a massive $81,740 total, Miller still walked away with thousands in winnings, a dream vacation, and a night of national spotlight — a memorable victory in its own right.