CLEMSON — The Orange Team beat the White team, 27-12, Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Clemson’s annual Orange & White Spring Game.

Below is a breakdown of what happened in the spring game and some thoughts.

MVP

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said Christopher Vizzina has shown he can compete with Cade Klubnik this year and has progressed nicely. Maybe all that is true, but it was third string quarterback Trent Pearman who made everyone take notice in the spring game.

Pearman, who led nearby Daniel High School to multiple state championships, accounted for two touchdowns, including a 49-yard touchdown run. He also tossed a perfectly thrown 9-yard touchdown pass to freshman Bryant Wesco in the left corner of the end zone.

Pearman, who quarterbacked both teams, completed 13 of 18 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown. He also had five carries for 53 yards and a touchdown.

He completed his first six passes for 71 yards and a touchdown.

TAKEAWAY

There is not much to take away from a spring game, especially since Clemson has a split squad. However, the two defenses once again looked good. Cornerback Tavoy Feagin (White Team) and Jamal Anderson (Orange Team) recorded interceptions. Feagin returned his interception 44 yards to set up the game’s first points, a 29-yard field goal by Nolan Hauser. He intercepted Cade Klubnik on the far sideline in the first quarter after wide receiver Adam Randall ran the wrong route.

Anderson returned his interception 24 yards for a touchdown after stepping in front of Christopher Vizzina’s screen pass.

MISTAKES

Klubnik and Vizzina should have been intercepted twice in the first half. Klubnik rolled out and threw the football into double coverage in the first quarter, but the interception was dropped. A second-quarter pass by Vizzina was picked off, but the play was negated by an offside penalty call on the defense.

Vizzina, the White team quarterback, threw a second interception with 56 seconds to play in the third quarter. Defensive end Jahiem Lawson made a great play to record the pick at the Orange’s 2-yard line.

Klubnik finished the afternoon 13-for-16 for 158 yards, while Vizzina completed 12 of 22 passes for 95 yards.

Corner Braden Strozier was called for a pass interference call in the first quarter to keep a White team drive alive, while also being flagged for a personal foul facemask penalty in the third quarter.

Khalil Barnes was charged with a pass interference call on receiver Antonio Williams on a seam route to set up an Orange touchdown in the second quarter.

KICKING COMPETITION

Freshman kicker Nolan Hauser connected on field goals of 29 and 48 yards. Unfortunately for Robert Gunn, he missed a 55-yard attempt. He had the distance, but the kick went wide left.

Gunn later came back and made a 36-yard field goal in the third quarter. He missed a 37-yard kick in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT

Clemson opens the season on Aug. 31 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta against the Georgia Bulldogs. It will be the first meeting between the Southern Rivals since 2021. Georgia has won seven of the last eight meetings between the two.