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The Kansas Kaos improved to 6-0 on the season with a solid victory Saturday night over a very good Iowa Lightning. The Kaos were pressed for the first time all season and made plays when they had to in order to pull out the 40-23 victory.

With the victory the Kaos were able to hold on to their top-five power ranking in the NAFL, but it wasn't easy.

Early on the Kaos were burned on defense on a deep tight end seam route that staked the Lightning to a 6-0 lead. It marked the first time all season the Kaos had trailed. After the Kaos got the ball back, however, the offense took a firm grip on the game and did not let go until the final whistle.

Powered by a consistent running attack from Lee Baker and Allen Williams and balanced by clutch catches by receiver Grady Henderson, the Kaos scored 21 unanswered points. They faced a stingy defense that stacked eight men in the box to stop the Kaos' running attack, but the Kaos were able to "out-physical" the Lightning at the line of scrimmage.

"No question on who the game ball went to in this game: the whole offense," Kaos coach Kip Van Hoose said. "I think the offensive unit played their best game to date. We absolutely man-handled them on that side of the ball - against really good competition."

Quarterback Jason Sutherland scored a touchdown on a scramble, and Williams and Baker scored two touchdowns each.

Defensive back Chuck Smiley had an interception and played solid as a kick returner, but he was one of the only bright spots on defense.

"I think we got exposed in the secondary a little bit," Van Hoose said. "They were really driving the ball on us and they hit some deep plays when we weren't communicating well."

The key point in the game came with just over 10 minutes remaining. After a stop of a Lightning drive, the Kaos took over at their own 9-yard line with the lead at 33-20.

Over the next nine minutes and 91 yards, the Kaos steamrolled down the field earning first down after first down, while completely demoralizing the defense they were smashing. At the end of the drive they scored to make it a 40-20 game, but the score mattered little. There was such little time left the Lightning could not change the outcome of the game.

"Anytime you can string together a nine-minute drive to milk the clock and put up points at the end, you are making a statement," Van Hoose said. "We know it will be a big test when we have to travel to their place later in the season

The Kaos will enjoy a couple of weeks off to get healthy before getting back into action on Aug. 30 against the Kansas City Jazz.

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