The Alabama Vipers endured a tough road loss at Bossier-Shreveport to open the season when an apparent game-tying touchdown was blown dead as the game ended. Things weren't near as close during Saturday night's rematch. The Vipers struck early and often as they blew away the Battle Wings 56-19 before an announced crowd of 3,701 fans at the Von Braun Center. Alabama snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 4-3 on the year after avenging the 54-48 defeat in Louisiana. Bossier-Shreveport lost its fifth straight and dropped to 2-6. Vipers quarterback Tony Colston - who got the nod with starter Kevin Eakin still sidelined with an injury - completed 17 of 25 passes for 238 yards and five touchdowns. He also rushed for a team-high 35 yards and a score, with Willie Quinne catching three touchdowns and CJ Johnson adding six receptions for 118 yards and two scores. The Battle Wings lost quarterback Raymond Philyaw early in the first quarter to an injury and Randy Hymes came on to throw for 221 and three touchdowns on 20 of 39 passing with three interceptions. Willis Marshall paced Bossier-Shreveport with 11 catches for 131 yards and a touchdown. Alabama trailed 13-7 in the first quarter after Hymes' 18-yard pass to Byron Douzart and a missed extra point. Colston's 17-yard pass to Johnson and Brian Jackson's extra point put the Vipers ahead 14-13 with 2:31 left in the opening quarter. Alabama poured it on from there. Dan Alexander and Colston posted back to back rushing touchdowns for a 28-13 lead late in the opener, then Alabama sealed the win on a pair of Colston touchdown passes to Quinne that made it a 42-19 game in the fourth quarter.
