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University of Minnesota Athletics
Gold Tops White In Spring Game
4/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Final Stats | VIDEO: Spring Game Highlights | Photo Gallery
With crisp temperatures and a steady breeze, it certainly felt like football season on Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium when the University of Minnesota football team staged its annual spring game.
The Minnesota coaching staff split the team into two squads - Gold and White - and let them battle one another as the team program wrapped up spring practice with one final scrimmage. The game was played with two 40-minute halves and ended with a 19-7 win for the Gold team.
More than just bragging rights were on the line Saturday though, as the victorious Gold team was rewarded with post-game full slab of ribs, a hearty side of mac and cheese and backed beans. The losing White team had to settle for two ribs and a side of beans.
The two teams excelled on defense in the first half as the temperatures hovered in the high 30s. The White team led 7-6 at the half after linebacker Jaylen Waters returned a Seth Green interception 50 yards for a touchdown.
The second half belonged to the Gold team as running backs James Johannesson and Rodney Smith moved the ball behind an effective offensive line. Johannesson rushed 22 times for a game-high 130 yards and scored the game's only offensive touchdown when he scored from 7 yards out in the second half.
Smith, who rushed for 670 yards and two touchdowns last season, added 92 yards on the ground on 18 carries.
Kicker Emmit Carpenter did the rest of the scoring for the Gold team as he was perfect on all four of his field goal attempts. Carpenter connected from 26 and 31 yards in the first half and then was good from 23 and 40 yards in the second half as he racked up 12 points for Gold.
The game was the culmination of Minnesota's spring practice. The Gophers begin fall practice in early August and open the 2016 season on Sept. 1 at TCF Bank Stadium against Oregon State.
