Wranglers Stun Invaders with 31-0 Rampage Before Surviving Late Oakland Rally
The Arizona Wranglers delivered the shock of the USFL season with a dominant 31-21 victory over the heavily favored Oakland Invaders, building a stunning 31-0 lead before surviving a frantic fourth-quarter rally. MVP Otis Brown powered Arizona’s offense with 131 rushing yards and a touchdown while adding 77 receiving yards, as the Wranglers capitalized on four Oakland turnovers to hand the Invaders their first loss. Quarterback Jon Carlson efficiently managed the upset, completing 16 of 25 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns – both to receiver Bee Lang (70 yards) – while Arizona’s defense intercepted Fred Besana four times, including Allan Durden’s 25-yard pick-six that extended the lead to 31-0 late in the third quarter.
Oakland’s offense finally awoke in the final 17 minutes, with Besana throwing three touchdown passes to make the score respectable after the game had been decided. The Invaders’ typically potent ground game was held to just 65 yards, with John Williams limited to 56 yards on 18 carries. Arizona’s defensive front dominated throughout, sacking Besana twice and consistently disrupting Oakland’s rhythm, while the secondary made life miserable for the veteran quarterback with tight coverage and timely takeaways. The Wranglers’ special teams also contributed, with Mike Crawford averaging 11.5 yards on punt returns and Luis Zendejas converting all four extra points plus a 28-yard field goal.
The upset victory moves Arizona to 1-2 and provides a signature win for coach George Allen’s squad, while Oakland falls to 2-1 after being thoroughly outplayed for three quarters. The Wranglers’ ability to control the clock (29:03 time of possession) and capitalize on turnovers (scoring 17 points off takeaways) proved decisive, though the late collapse will give Allen plenty to address in practice. For the Invaders, the loss raises questions about their consistency after being shut out for the first 45 minutes despite outgaining Arizona 390-356 in total yards. Both teams face critical Week 5 matchups, with Arizona looking to build momentum while Oakland seeks to rediscover the dominant form that made them early-season contenders.
