PITTSBURGH -- The comeback James Conner never doubted, not once, officially ended with an unremarkable 1-yard loss.And while the Pittsburgh running back picked himself up and quietly headed back to the huddle early in the first quarter against Villanova on Saturday, thousands inside Heinz Field rose to their feet for a standing ovation that had nothing to do with football and everything to do with perseverance.There will be plenty of time for Conner to nitpick his performance in Pitts 28-7 season-opening win. Just not Saturday. Conners well aware of the significance of his familiar No. 24 jersey sprinting onto the field for the first time in 364 days, a layoff that began with a knee injury last September against Youngstown State then became something far more harrowing when he was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma around Thanksgiving.The road back included months of chemotherapy treatment, sessions that left him drained but undaunted. He soldiered through spring practice wearing a mask during drills to protect his depleted immune system, all the while hoping his example would resonate with those facing similar battles. Its a role he never envisioned having to fill, but one hes willingly embraced.Its why the stands were filled with family members, the medical staff that helped restore him to health and hundreds of friends from back home in Erie, Pennsylvania. Conners two-touchdown performance was as much a testament to their support as it was his resolve. At the same time hes only too happy to put this chapter -- the first chapter anyway -- behind him and get back to football and not the disease that temporarily brought the 2014 ACC Player of the Years blossoming career to a halt.Its not my first game, Conner said. I know its a comeback game but its felt like a regular season football camp really. My battle was already won, beating cancer. Everything else was a reward.There was rust to be sure. There were also signs that hes going to be just fine. The proof came in the second quarter when Conner took a handoff and raced around the left end, stiff-arming a Villanova defender before crossing the goal line to give the Panthers the lead while the teammates who elected him as one of Pitts three captains raced to congratulate him.That first touchdown couldnt be any better, stiff-arm into the end zone right into the student section, quarterback Nate Peterman said. It was an emotional moment.Conner was at it again just before the half, hauling in a 9-yard score by making a difficult grab in traffic over the middle. He finished with 53 yards on 17 carries and added three receptions for 16 yards as Pitt avoided an embarrassing slip-up a week before a highly anticipated showdown with Penn State.Im sure as we watch the tape were going to have a lot of corrections for him, coach Pat Narduzzi said. Mainly that hes looking for a touchdown every play instead of hitting it up there for three or four yards and be happy with it. Its been a long time since he stepped on the field in a game situation. He made plays when he needed to.Quadree Henderson returned the second-half kickoff 96 yards for a score to break things open. Peterman completed 19 of 32 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns, including a pretty 16-yard lob to Jester Weah with six minutes to go. Still, the Panthers managed just 211 total yards.The Wildcats controlled play for portions of the first half, but three straight drives into Pitt territory failed to produce any points, giving the Panthers time to get going. Rob Rolle returned a Peterman fumble 3 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter for Villanovas only score.THE TAKEAWAYVillanova: Coach Andy Tally said entering his 32nd and final season the Wildcats will have to rely heavily on their defense. Theres reason for optimism as Villanova stayed within striking distance, keeping Pitts running game in check for the most part and preventing big plays.Pitt: The Panthers will need the passing game to develop quickly if they want to make noise in the crowded ACC Coastal Division. Villanova stacked the line of scrimmage and dared Peterman to throw it, which he did with only middling success.UP NEXTVillanova: Host Lehigh in their home opener.Pitt: Resumes its rivalry with Penn State after a 15-year hiatus when the Nittany Lions visit Heinz Field.---AP College Football site: www.collegefootball.ap.org Cheap Baltimore Ravens Jerseys . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Baltimore Ravens Jerseys China . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. http://www.cheapravensjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-jaleel-scott-jersey . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. Authentic Kenny Young Jersey . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. Wholesale Ravens Jerseys . -- Quarterback Will Finch threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and Yannick Harou rushed in two scores as the No. ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Right-hander Colby Lewis will make his first start in nearly three months Sunday when the Texas Rangers will try to sweep their three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium.The Rangers, who own the American Leagues best record, would reduce their magic number to win the American League West to 10 by beating the Angels. If the second-place Houston Astros also lose to the Chicago Cubs, that number would decrease to nine.Lewis, 37, won his first six decisions before going on the disabled list because of a strained right latissimus dorsi muscle. The right-hander sustained that injury in his last start June 21, when he allowed six runs on five hits in five innings of an 8-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.With the playoffs starting in three weeks, Rangers manager Jeff Banister wants to get Lewis ready.Its about getting back out on a major-league field, Banister told MLB.com. Weve got an opportunity to get some starts behind him so he has an opportunity to build up and move forward.Lewis had a 75-pitch limit in his final rehabilitation start for Class A Spokane on Monday, so Banister will watch him carefully.We want to make sure he stays healthy, the Texas manager told MLB.com. We dont want to send him out and throw 110 pitches. We still want to monitor his pitches because this is about the long term for us, getting him ramped up.In that start for Spokane, Lewis allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings but issued no walks and collected three strikeouts while throwinng 66 pitches.ddddddddddddI feel great, Lewis told MLB.com. The last start, I felt really good. Everything was a lot sharper. I got a lot out of it. I just felt free and easy. Im just excited to get back out there.Before his injury, Lewis led the American League with 12 quality starts and held opponents to a .222 batting average. A victory Sunday would extend Lewis winning streak on the road to six games.Opposing Lewis will be right-hander Jered Weaver, who faces an uncertain future after this year.Weaver will become a free agent after his five-year contract ends this season. His problems with injuries and declining velocity have been well documented. The Angels could offer the 33-year old a one-year contract, especially since Andrew Heaney and Nick Tropeano will miss next season because of Tommy John surgery, and Garrett Richards remains an unknown quantity despite stem-cell therapy that has kept him from Tommy John surgery so far.Yet one element has remained constant: Weavers tenacity.No matter how Im feeling, Im going to go out there and take the ball, Weaver told the Los Angeles Times. Im not going to give up on my team, no matter what kind of situation were in. Theres a sense of pride to go out there and finish out a season, no matter what is going on or how your body is feeling. Ive definitely never been a quitter and never not gone when things havent been 100 percent. White NFL Jerseys Cheap Cheap Jerseys Youth NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale Jerseys 2018 Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Hoodies Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys ' ' '