White team takes down Orange in Clemson spring game

CLEMSON, S.C. — Midyear enrollee Khalil Barnes’ 22-yard interception return for touchdown with fewer than two minutes to play gave the White squad, led by Running Backs Coach C.J. Spiller, a 20-13 victory against the Orange squad, led by Defensive Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Tackles Coach Nick Eason, on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

The game attracted an estimated crowd of 50,000 people, the fifth-largest crowd on record for a Clemson Spring Game. Clemson legends Dexter Lawrence (Orange) and Wayne Gallman (White) also served as honorary coaches for their respective squads.

White team quarterback Cade Klubnik completed eight of his first nine pass attempts for 62 yards. He finished the contest 18-for-33 for 190 yards. Orange team running back Domonique Thomas was the game’s leading rusher, carrying 14 times for 63 yards and a touchdown.

The defenses combined for seven sacks and four interceptions. Sherrod Covil Jr. and Bubba McAtee posted a team-high six tackles for the White squad, while Barrett Carter, Peter Woods and Kylon Griffin tied for the Orange team lead with seven stops each.

This year’s intrasquad scrimmage featured a slight change in roster construction from recent years. Whereas the top offensive and defensive units were usually split between the Orange and White teams, this year, Head Coach Dabo Swinney opted to keep each unit intact and pit the team’s top available offense against the top available defense. While position coaches and the entire Clemson Football support staff were split, coordinators Garrett Riley and Wes Goodwin called plays for both squads.

After the Orange team made a stop on the game’s opening possession by the White squad, kicker Liam Boyd opened the game’s scoring by converting a 51-yard attempt on the Orange team’s opening possession. The Orange team’s scoring drive covered 47 yards in 10 plays.

The White team responded on its second possession, as an impressive 19-yard run by running back Phil Mafah on…