ld a grueling practice that flipped a switch.The Grizzlies to

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 Jerseys . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. Wholesale NBA Jerseys China . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. http://www.wholesalejerseysnfl.com/ . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan. Cheap Basketball Jerseys . Its an influence in football and a big part of the game. Cheap NFL Jerseys China .ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz have been in the same situation that faces them in Sundays 6 p.m. (Eastern) game at FedEx Forum. Quite recently in fact.A four-game trip started badly for the Grizzlies with a 10-point clunker of a loss at Milwaukee on Nov. 12. The next day in Utah, rookie head coach David Fizdale held a grueling practice that flipped a switch.The Grizzlies topped the Jazz 102-96 and have been on a 14-5 run since without star PG Mike Conley and pricey free agent F Chandler Parsons for long stretches.That game started the Jazz on a four-game skid, but they have since won 10 of 12 games, and at 17-10 are a half-game behind Memphis (18-10) in the NBA Western Conference standings.The Grizzlies had another misstep Friday, a 96-92 home loss Friday to Sacramento -- only the second team below .500 to beat Memphis this season.The traditionally shooting-challenged Grizzlies hit only 37.7 percent from the field and 20 from the 3-point line in the loss to the Kings, coached by former Memphis boss Dave Joerger.After a community Christmas event, Fizdale only held a film session Saturday, but would have plenty to say about an effort where the defensive-minded Grizzlies were outhustled in every category.We were all over the place, not competing on the ball, and many times we were just looking for the screen, like we dont want to get hit, Fizdale said.Conley returned 2? weeks after sustaining fractures in his back after hitting a stray knee while taking a charge Nov. 28 against Charlotte.A 19.5-point scorer before the injury, Conley had only eight points in 29 minutes on Friday, shot 2-of-7 from the floor and missed a 3-point shot with the Kings hanging on 95-92.Conley did pass Pau Gasol as the GGrizzlies career scoring leader at 8,968 points.ddddddddddddWe knew with Mike coming back there was going to be rust, Fizdale said. The guys were out of rhythm trying to figure out and play with him. But thats zero excuse. Our effort was pathetic.C Marc Gasol, who led Memphis with 20 points despite 6-of-18 shooting, said: We have to come back tomorrow, get better, watch film and move on.Utah, meanwhile, needed a fast-break 3-pointer from SG Rodney Hood with eight-10ths of a second left to escape with a 103-100 home win over lowly Dallas Friday.There was a lot of indecision, but Rodney could see open court and there was enough time so I just wanted him to go, Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. We had been struggling in halfcourt.C Rudy Gobert had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Hood added 15 points for Utah against the Mavs, who stayed in the game with 3-point shooting against a first-half defense Snyder called, atrocious.A year ago, Utah went 2-1 against Memphis, and two seasons ago won both games at FedEx Forum.They play extremely hard, and execute their stuff well, Fizdale said of the Jazz.Snyder, whose teams road swing concludes Tuesday at Golden State, said: Memphis will show you physicality, toughness and is a veteran team.Before Fridays game Fizdale said that Parsons (knee bone bruise) and F James Ennis (calf) are very close to returning.Snyder said Jazz PG George Hill, whose 20-point scoring average is second only to Gordon Heyward (22.5), is progressing but will remain sidelined because of a toe injury Sunday.F Derrick Favors played 13 minutes in his second game back from injury Friday. ' ' '