Copperheads fall to Bossier-Shreveport
April 13, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Texas Copperheads News Release
Houston, Texas - Bossier-Shreveport opened and closed the game with interception returns for touchdowns as the Battle Wings defeated the Texas Copperheads 67-41 Saturday night at the Richard E. Berry Center in northwest Houston.
After tossing two incompletions to begin the game, Bossier-Shreveport's Chris Ibezim picked off Texas QB Rudy Carlton's third attempt and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown. The Battle Wings were ahead to stay at the 13:23 mark of the first quarter. The opening score set the tone as turnovers would continue to plague the Copperheads. Carlton threw four interceptions and Shaun Rochon lost a fumble as the Copperheads offense would turn the ball over 5 times in the game.
Texas turned the ball over on downs on the next series. Battle Wings QB Gary Cooper responded by capping off a 3 play 21 yard drive with a 7 yard TD pass to Chavis McCollister at the 8:20 mark of the first quarter.
Trailing 14-0, Texas rebounded quickly as Carlton found Shaun Rochon for a 29 yard scoring strike. The PAT failed and the Copperheads were down 14-6 with 5:10 remaining in the first quarter.
On the ensuing drive Cooper found Dustin Johnson for a 12 yard TD pass.
On the final play of the first quarter, Carlton was intercepted by Kenneth E. Williams and Bossier-Shreveport enjoyed a 21-6 lead.
Both teams traded touchdowns in the second quarter. Cooper tossed scores of 28 and 35 yards to Kenneth R. Williams while Texas scored on a 1 yard Vernon Kennebrew run and a 23 yard pass from Carlton to Rochon.
Down 35-20, Texas threatened to close the gap on their final drive of the 1st half, but Rochon fumbled at the Battle Wing 10 after hauling in a 20 yard pass from Carlton. Paul Mosley recovered the fumble for Bossier-Shreveport with 9 seconds to play in the half. Rochon was injured on the play and did not return.
McCollister scored on a 1 yard TD run to open the 2nd half scoring for Bossier-Shreveport. The Battle Wings offense would add two more scoring runs (Jason Schule) of 3 yards and 6 yards in the 2nd half. Cooper would also find Manwel Talbert for a 15 yard score.
Texas' second half scoring consisted of a 19 yard scoring pass from Carlton to Bryan Carroll and two scoring passes of 27 and 34 yards to U.S. Army Ironman of the Game Armar Watson, who was filling in for Rochon.
Bossier-Shreveport scored the game's final TD on a 48 yard Phillip Geiggar interception return.
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