Favre, the newest Jet, proves to be a huge hit

Brett Favre got a standing ovation from an overflow crowd that went to great lengths to get a good look at the New York Jets’ newest quarterback Saturday at Hempstead, N.Y. He was cheered again when he completed his first pass of practice.

Those fans won’t have to wait long to see him in action against another team.

Jets Coach Eric Mangini said Favre will start next Saturday against the Washington Resdkins in the team’s exhibition home opener.

More than 7,000 fans packed the club’s practice facility in Long Island to catch a glimpse of Favre in his first appearance on a field with New York.

New York Giants rookie linebacker Jonathan Goff will be sidelined indefinitely because of a back injury, Coach Tom Coughlin said.

Jacob Hester, San Diego’s third-round draft choice from Louisiana State, scored two rushing touchdowns to help the Chargers defeat the Dallas Cowboys, 34-17, at San Diego. He finished with 49 yards in 13 carries.

Matt Ryan, the third overall pick in this year’s draft by Atlanta, led an 11-play, 74-yard touchdown drive on his second series. He completed five of six passes for 56 yards and a touchdown, but the Falcons lost to the Jaguars, 20-17.

A botched snap prevented Carolina’s John Kasay from attempting a 27-yard field goal on the final play of regulation at Charlotte. He made a 46-yarder with 3:53 left in overtime to give the Panthers a 23-20 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

Washington quarterbacks Jason Campbell and Todd Collins combined to complete 15 for 21 for 148 yards and a touchdown in the first half, and the Redskins beat the Buffalo Bills, 17-14, at Washington.

Tampa Bay swarmed Miami’s struggling quarterbacks -- second-year man John Beck, rookie Chad Henne and Josh McCown -- and the Buccaneers beat the Dolphins, 17-6, at Miami.

Kris Brown kicked four field goals, including a 25-yarder on the game’s final play, to give the Houston Texans a 19-16 victory over the Denver Broncos at Houston. Broncos linebacker Louis Green left the field on a stretcher after suffering a neck injury and a concussion during the first quarter.

Keith Bulluck intercepted a tipped pass and returned it 13 yards for a touchdown, and rookie Chris Johnson ran for a 66-yard touchdown to help the Tennessee Titans beat the St. Louis Rams, 34-13, at Nashville.

GOLF

Blumenherst, Munoz in U.S. Amateur final

Duke star Amanda Blumenherst and NCAA Division I champion Azahara Munoz advanced to the U.S. Women’s Amateur final at Eugene, Ore.

Blumenherst, the three-time national college player of the year, defeated 15-year-old Erynne Lee of Silverdale, Wash., 3 and 2.

Munoz, the Arizona State star, beat Spanish compatriot Belen Mozo, 4 and 3. Mozo helped USC win the NCAA team title.

Annika Sorenstam shot a one-under-par 71 and trailed by two shots after leader Lill Saether tied the course record with a 64 in the Scandinavian TPC at Stockholm.

Saether birdied six of her first seven holes and is at nine-under 135. Maria Hjorth also shot a 64 and shared second with Lora Fairclough (66). They trail by one stroke.

HORSE RACING

Spirit One wins Arlington Million

French-based Spirit One won the Arlington Million at Arlington Heights, Ill., leading from start to finish for an upset victory over an international field of seven turf horses.

Ridden by Ioritz Mendizabal, Spirit Open beat favored Archipenko in the 1 1/4 -mile Grade I stakes by three-quarters of a length in 2:02.17.

Longshot Sky Cape rallied to beat Tangled Tango by a length in the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar. Ridden by Joel Rosario, Sky Cape ran the 1 1/16 -mile course in 1:40.92.

LACROSSE

L.A. Riptide loses to San Francisco

The L.A. Riptide was defeated by the San Francisco Dragons, 19-15, in a Major League Lacrosse match at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.

Attackman’s Jesse Hubbard scored four goals for the Riptide, which finished the regular season at 7-5.