Tigers' defense contains the Wildcats' Wildcat

NASHVILLE, TENN. - As time wound down on his career, on the end of Clemson's three-game bowl losing streak, C.J. Spiller looked toward the lower bowl of LP Field, where a small band of Clemson diehards braved the bitter weather to chant 'C.J., C.J.'

It was as much an appreciation for Spiller's career achievements as it was his 8-yard run in the fourth quarter that provided the final scoring in Clemson's 21-13 win in the Music City Bowl on Sunday night.

Named the game MVP, Spiller acknowledged the crowd but he might want to have also pointed toward fellow senior Kavell Conner. There was no chanting for Conner. His career played out in relative obscurity. But it ended with what might have been the most critical performance in giving the Tigers their first bowl win since 2005.

Conner led the team in tackles last season. As the Tigers struggled in defending the run the last two games, he recorded nine tackles, a sack and maybe the most important forced fumble of the last four years.

'Kavell's been steady every game. He just makes plays,' Clemson defensive coordinator Kevin Steele said. 'It goes unnoticed in some games because you see the tackle chart, and he may not be on the chart. He just does his job.'

With Clemson leading by just a point, Conner stripped Kentucky receiver Gene McCaskill of the ball after a short reception. Clemson tackle Jarvis Jenkins recovered the ball on the Kentucky 19. Five plays later, Spiller was in the end zone for the 21st time this season, tying the ACC single-season record set by North Carolina's Don McCauley in 1970.

'It was big,' Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney said of the takeaway. 'The defense was really starting to find its groove. That's how you win football games. You get positive in turnover margin and you stop the run.'

Spiller's score also set the school record for career touchdowns. He remained the only player in the country to score in every game this season.

But it was Conner who, though lacking the size and speed of a future NFL first-rounder, played disciplined football throughout the season and helped Clemson contain Kentucky's Wildcat running plays.

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Clemson entered with an embattled run defense, having allowed 600 combined rushing yards in losses to Georgia Tech and South Carolina. It faced the SEC's fifth-rated rushing offense and explosive runner Randall Cobb captaining the Wildcat.

Cobb had tied Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram in the SEC with 18 touchdowns.

After allowing Cobb to run for 11 yards on his first Wildcat attempt, Clemson slowed the play. Kentucky ran out of the direct-snap formation five times for 27 yards.

Kentucky ran for 167 yards on 42 carries but was limited to 277 total yards.

'They did a good job against (the Wildcat),' Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said. 'They had long time to prepare for it. They took some things away.'

Reach Travis Sawchik at tsawchik@postandcourier.com and check out his Clemson blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/tiger_tracks.