The Quad-City Stallions seem to be moving in the right direction.

After an eye-opening first week, the semi-pro team has ripped off four straight wins to move into second place in the Heartland Division of the World Football League.

The first week was as tough a beginning for a new franchise as it could get. The Stallions opened their first season against the defending champion Iowa Sharks.

After the 51-12 defeat, coach Jon Koenig saw the light come on.

"We had a huge learning curve after that first game," he said. "Everybody had to step it up a notch."

Running back Richard Reeves saw it more as a learning experience.

"They had been together six years, we'd been together six weeks," he said. "We hadn't had time to build in that trust. They showed us what we needed to work on."

The practices took on a more intense atmosphere, Koenig said. That intensity upshift has been apparent on the defensive side of the ball.

During their current winning streak, the Stallions have surrendered 42 points total, including two shutouts.

"The defense had helped keeping us in games," Koenig said. "They've barely given up any points and give us good field position."

That's because the defense doesn't want to relinquish anything, Reeves said.

"Not even a first down," he said.

The offense hasn't been too shabby, either, averaging 38 points in the five games, second in the division behind the Sharks. And as poor as that opening game performance was, Quad-City's 12 points were nearly half the 26 the Sharks have given up all year.

As the Stallions complete their bye week, their focus turns to the rest of the season. But there is one date in particular that is circled on their calendar - a July 18 re-match with the Sharks.

"It's going to be a whole different ballgame," Koenig said. "We looked disorganized that first time. The team, they want that revenge."