Dabo Swinney got what he wanted in Clemson’s Orange & White Game on Saturday as 50,500 fans filed into Death Valley to set a new spring game record for attendance. The previous record was 37,000, which was set at last year’s spring game.

“I just want to thank our crowd. It was awesome,” Swinney said afterwards. “It just gives us the opportunity to help develop our team. When you have 50-plus thousand there, it creates a game day environment, and you cannot simulate that in practice.”

On the field, the guy they all came to see put on a show on the four possessions he played in. Playing in front of a crowd for the first time since his record setting performance against Alabama in the National Championship Game, quarterback Deshaun Watson was 7-for-11 for 141 yards and two touchdowns in the Orange team’s 17-9 victory over the White.

Watson spent the rest of the afternoon standing behind the play with Swinney.

“I found out yesterday that’s what I was going to do. When I was out there, I knew I was going to go out there and compete for both teams and try to execute. I was out there working on decision making also.”

Watson’s decision making was just fine. He had a 61-yard touchdown pass to Ray Ray McCloud down the near side line, while also throwing a touchdown pass of four yards to Hunter Renfrow. Both touchdown passes came when he was quarterbacking the Orange team.

Watson also connected with Renfrow for a 47-yard gain on the game’s opening possession.

It was a strong ending to the spring for Watson, the first spring he was able to compete and complete since coming to Clemson in 2014.

“I still have a lot of things to work on. We all do, but we are not where we want to be at,” he said. “We will be in August, but right now we have a lot of work to do.”

Renfrow had three catches for 61 yards on the game’s opening drive, and finished the afternoon five catches for 87 yards.

The Orange took a 7-0 lead on the White team when Watson led a 65-yard scoring drive, which he capped with a six-yard touchdown pass to Renfrow.

Watson completed 5-of-6 passes for 140 yards while quarterbacking the Orange team on two possessions. Both possessions led to touchdowns, as he found McCloud deep down the sideline for 61 yards in the second quarter, which gave the Orange a 14-3 lead at the time.

“That’s what has been big this entire spring in the receivers’ room, just finishing play,” said McCloud, who finished the afternoon with three catches for 98 yards. “That was a big play. We finished the play.”

The White team was not as fortunate with Watson quarterbacking. The All-American was 2-for-5 for just one yard.

Nick Schuessler, who quarterbacked the White team, threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Cannon Smith in the second quarter that made the score 14-9.

Schuessler completed 12-of-18 passes for 122 yards in the opening half, and finished the game 14-of-21 for 133 yards with a long of 37 yards to Artavis Scott.

“It was great to get out there and play in that kind of game atmosphere,” Schuessler said. “Overall, I was pleased. We had a lot of people step up and make some plays so it was good to be back out there.”

Wayne Gallman rushed for 58 yards for the Orange team, while Adam Choice also had 88 yards on 18 carries. C.J. Fuller led the White team with 58 rushing yards.

Trevion Thompson led the White team with 87 yards on six catches, while Scott finished with five catches for 52 yards.

Kelly Bryant, who quarterbacked the Orange team, did not have as good of a game as Watson and Schuessler. The sophomore completed 9-of-17 passes for 128 yards and threw two interceptions. One was to Marcus Edmond, which he returned 47 yards to the Orange 33.

Ryan Carter had the other interception.

On defense, true freshman linebacker Tre Lamar led all tacklers with 10, while defensive tackle Christian Wilkins had six tackles. Both played for the White team.

Linebackers Kendall Joseph and J.D. Davis had seven tackles each for the Orange team. Strongside linebacker Dorian O’Daniel had six tackles, as did Cordrea Tankersley.

The Tigers will now focus on summer workouts before getting back with the coaches in August for fall camp. Clemson kicks off the 2016 season at Auburn on Sept. 3.

If you haven’t already order your copy today of Guts & Glory – Tales of Clemson’s Historic 2015 Football Season to help you celebrate and remember this special season.