Express Is Trounced in Oakland

The Oakland Invaders’ fourth straight victory, 27-6, over the Los Angeles Express Saturday, has Coach Charlie Sumner talking about the United States Football League playoffs.

“I’ve said all along we could be a playoff team, but the next two weeks will have a big impact on our outlook,” said Sumner of the Invaders (8-3-1). “If we do OK, then we’ll take a closer look at the playoffs.”

The Invader defense held the Express (3-9) to just two Tony Zendejas field goals and sacked quarterback Steve Young seven times.

“I was injured early in the ballgame and it seemed to get worse and worse,” said Young, who has been plagued by injuries all year.

John Williams ran for two Invader touchdowns, and Novo Bojovic kicked two 48-yard field goals to help fuel the victory. The win moved Oakland into a temporary tie for first place in the Western Conference with Houston.

Williams scored his first touchdown less than two minutes into the game when he swept around left end for 26 yards.

Zendejas kicked a 26-yard field goal early in the second quarter for the Express, but the Invaders came back four plays later when quarterback Bobby Hebert hit Anthony Carter on a 62-yard touchdown pass play.

Zendejas’ 39-yard field goal midway through the second quarter proved to be the last points for the Express. The Invaders put the game away by halftime, taking a 24-6 lead after Williams rambled seven yards for a touchdown and Bojovic kicked his first 48-yard field goal of the day.

Bojovic’s second 48-yard field goal, with 5:18 to go in the third quarter, ended the Oakland scoring.