Saturday 04/11/2015

White Wins Spring Game, 35-24

CLEMSON, S.C. — C.J. Davidson ran for 100 yards and two scores to lead the White team to a 35-24 victory in Clemson’s Spring Football Game at Memorial Stadium Saturday afternoon. The contest was played in brilliant sunshine and 78 degree weather in front an Orange & White Spring Game record crowd of 37,000.

The game concluded the spring practice season for Dabo Swinney’s Tigers, who are seeking a fifth straight season of at least 10 wins, something that has never been accomplished in Clemson football history.

The victorious White squad rushed for 212 yards and passed for 195 in a balanced performance. The White team finished with 407 yards in just 53 plays, an average of 7.7 yards per play. The 60-minute game featured three 15-minute quarters of normal clock rules, but the fourth period was played with a running clock.

Davidson was the top rusher in the game with the aforementioned 100 yards rushing. He had a 54- yard run for a score in the second period that gave the White team a 28-10 lead. He had also scored on a one-yard run earlier in the contest. Wayne Gallman, Clemson’s starting running back last season, had 71 yards in just seven carries and also scored a touchdown. Freshman C.J. Fuller of Easley, S.C., had 13-48 and also scored for the White team.

Quarterback Nick Schuessler played for both teams, while Kelly Bryant played for the Orange and Tucker Israel played for the White. Schuessler was a combined 11-17 passing for 201 yards and two touchdowns, one for each team.

Bryant, a freshman from nearby Calhoun Falls, S.C., completed 10-16 passes for 95 yards and two scores. He also ran for 29 yards in seven attempts. Israel, a freshman from Orlando, Fla., completed 8-16 passes for 110 yards and also picked up 12 yards on the ground.

Artavis Scott was the top receiver for the White team with four catches for 75 yards, including a 40-yard reception from Israel. Scott also had 109 yards in kick returns. Swinney had live tackling on special teams plays.

Mike Williams was the top receiver in the game with five catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns. One of his receptions for the Orange team was a one-handed grab on the sideline that brought special applause from the crowd. Germone Hopper also caught a scoring pass for the Orange team, a 20-yard catch from Bryant for the final score of the game.

Jayron Kearse, Jefferie Gibson and Kendall Joseph all had six tackles apiece to lead the White defense. Gibson also had a 17-yard interception return. There were only two turnovers in the scrimmage.

Another highlight of the scrimmage was the all-around performance of freshman walk-on Hunter Renfrow, who punted, returned punts, had two special teams tackles and had a 24-yard reception for the White team.

“I was pleased with the game today,” said Swinney. “The big thing is we didn’t get anyone hurt. It was a very competitive game and I expected that. We had a great crowd today and I want to thank the Clemson fans for turning out. It was an opportunity for some of our young players to get a taste of what it is like here on gameday.

“We put the team in as much game simulation as possible today and that goes for the young quarterbacks. I was happy with the play of Nick Schuessler this spring and he will be the backup to Deshaun Watson coming out of spring practice. But the freshmen played well and showed great improvement.

“We now look forward to the team working hard in the offseason. They need to finish strong in the classroom the last few weeks of the semester and then it is the very important summer program.”