CLINTON – Four lost fumbles by turnover-plagued Brandon made for an easy night for the Clinton Arrows.

The Arrows (1-1) used the miscues to score 17 points to set up a 38-13 romp before an estimated 3,500 at Roy Burkett Field Friday night. The win was the first-ever for new Clinton head coach Scott Brown.

“This is good for our kids to get a win, but Brandon did help us out with their miscues,” Brown said. “Three of the fumbles put us inside their 20 and we were able to take advantage.”

While Brandon’s fumble problems were a big help, it was the Clinton defense that made things happen. After driving successfully down the field on the opening drive, the Bulldogs’ offense stumbled against a spirited Arrow defense.

“We started to blitz a little more and once we do that, we can shake up even the best of offenses,” Clinton linebacker Corey Ray said. “We had a little of those first home-game jitters, but we adjusted and got our focus back.”

The turning point came when Ray blitzed Brandon quarterback Patrick Hall causing a fumble on the second play of the second quarter. Darryl Barnes recovered at the 27 and that led to the game’s first score, a 35-yard field goal by Joseph Cole with 9:11 left in the second quarter.

Clinton continued to blitz on the next series and the results were combined losses of eight yards and a Bulldog punt. Julius Harris put his Arrow offense in good shape with a 37-yard return to the Bulldog 16.

Five plays later, sophomore quarterback Wesley Mounger hit Cornelius Cavett on a 4-yard fade pattern for the score. Cole’s kick made it 10-0 with 4:01 left in the half.

Another three-and-out by Brandon gave Clinton the ball back at midfield. A 22-yard draw by Amonte Harper set up Mounger’s 25-yard TD dash that upped the lead to 17-0 with 1:19 left in the half.

“They hurt us with some misdirection early but we did a good job of adjusting to it,” Brown said.

Brandon (0-2) got on the board following a muffed punt by Harris that put the Bulldogs on the CHS 14. Cartez Scott scored on a 2-yard run to cap the 14-yard drive that made it 17-7 following Daniel Junkin’s kick.

Clinton went three-and-out on its first drive of the second half, but Brandon’s miscues struck again, giving the Arrows the ball at the Brandon 31.

Clinton pounded the ball to Harper, who scored from the 2. Cole’s kick made it 24-7 with 14 seconds left in the quarter.

Brandon’s fourth lost fumble led to an 11-yard TD run by Harper who finished the night with 126 yards on 22 carries.

“Getting the fumbles helped take some of the pressure off the offense,” Harper said.

Brandon’s highlight was a 95-yard kickoff return by Skyler Parker that made it 31-13 with 8:57 to play.

The game’s final score came after Clinton’s longest sustained drive of the game when they went 53 yards in six plays. Ryan Hester got the score on a 9-yard TD run.