By Hale McGranahan.

Only two things stood between James Quick and pay dirt: Green grass and Jayron Kearse’s desire. But the grass wasn’t going to make a touchdown-saving tackle.

Clinging to a 23-17 lead with 1:20 left to play, Clemson had Louisville pinned at its 19-yardline with no timeouts.

“The worst thing that can happen in that situation is to miss a tackle and let a guy get behind you, and that’s what happened,” Dabo Swinney said. “But Jayron didn’t quit.”

On the Cardinals’ first play of the drive, Will Gardner hit Quick at their 34. Quick went untouched until Kearse got his hands on him at the Tigers’ 15-yardline, before wrestling him to the ground at the eight.

“First thing came to mind was just get him down, catch him and get him down,” Kearse said. “I actually tried to get the ball out, but I couldn’t get it out.”

Kearse was straddling the Louisville 30-yardline on the opposite side of the field from Quick when the play began. Deshawn Williams was watching from the sideline.

“That was nothing but pure effort,” Williams said. “Just to get to the ball, that’s a fast guy, Quick is a fast guy.”

Apparently, Kearse is a little bit faster. There was no doubt in Jadar Johnson’s mind who would win the foot race.

“When I first saw him take off, I knew (Kearse) was going to catch him, it was just a matter of when,” Johnson said. “Jayron is a player that always gives his all. Even if he was 100 yards in front of him, he still would have run after him.

“That’s just typical Jayron.”

Ben Boulware concurred.

“That just speaks volumes of Jayron, how much he loves this game, how much he loves this team,” Boulware said. “He can sprint 80 yards down the field and hawk the guy down, that saved the game. That just speaks volumes about his character and will to win.

“Thank God for Jayron.”

Brent Venables holds a similar sentiment.

“That’s that don’t ever quit, don’t ever quit, you just don’t know,” Venables said. “We will use that one forever. I have never seen anything like it.”