BIG SPRING — The Coahoma Bulldogs turned three Forsan turnovers and a defensive two-point conversion into 22 points — and ultimately a win — on Thursday at Memorial Stadium, kicking off the 2024 season with a thrilling 34-28 victory in the annual Howard County Bowl.

Coach Chris Joslin’s defense scored nine points directly and set up two of the offense’s four touchdowns with takeaways, using a bend-but-don’t-break style to help the Bulldogs leave Big Spring with their second straight victory in the rivalry series and sixth in the last eight years.

Forsan ran 24 more offensive plays than Coahoma and outgained the Bulldogs 389-281, but a 3-0 gap in the turnover margin and a couple of explosive offensive plays by CHS were enough to turn the tied in a game Joslin’s squad led from the 6:04 mark of the first quarter on.