CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Quarterback Adam Austin throws downfield during the second spring football scrimmage. Austin replaced Richard Kovalcheck as the primary quarterback in spring drills after Kovalcheck had back surgery.

September may be five months away, but the Arizona football team was in regular-season form Saturday for its second scrimmage of the spring season.

"We did a lot of good things today," Arizona head coach Mike Stoops said. "It was a positive day. We're getting better."

The team went through drills before the offense and defense split sides for a 90-play, full-contact scrimmage.

Stoops lauded the offense's performance for the second straight week.

"We protected the ball well (and) we are starting to understand the plays better," he said.

Junior quarterback Adam Austin, Arizona's lone scholarship quarterback while sophomore Richard Kovalcheck rests his injured back, had a productive outing, completing 21-of-35 pass attempts for 326 yards and one touchdown.

"I'm getting a lot more comfortable with the offense," Austin said.

Austin appeared comfortable with sophomore receiver Anthony Johnson. Austin connected eight times with Johnson for 101 yards and a touchdown.

"We told (Johnson) to play inside and play physical, and today was a good day for him," offensive coordinator Mike Canales said.

CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Chris Henry stiff-arms Sam Stephenson during the second spring 2005 football scrimmage Saturday.

Junior receivers Mike Jefferson and B.J. Vickers were not to be outdone. The two wideouts took in 54 and 56 yards, respectively.

Sophomore Chris Henry had a big day, rushing for 78 yards on 18 carries and scoring a touchdown.

"The offensive line helped a lot. They made the holes, I got through them," Henry said.

Arizona's top rusher in 2003 and 2004, senior Mike Bell, ended with 45 yards on eight carries.

"We have to continue to create the seams to run," Stoops said. "It opens up the throwing game (and) gives us balance."

Canales said the offense's improvement comes in no small part to the work of Stoops and the defensive staff.

"They are great defensive minds, and they make us better on offense. We put our minds together to let the kids be successful," Canales said.

Linebacker Brandon Lopez, a redshirt freshman from Tucson's Cienega High School, led the Wildcats with seven tackles.

Fellow redshirt freshman linebacker Ronnie Palmer made his mark with four tackles, as one of five Wildcats to do so.

Senior defensive end Copeland Bryan applied pressure in the backfield with three sacks.

"We're using our athleticism to our advantage," Stoops said.

Senior safety Darrell Brooks, the team's leading tackler in 2004, has been unable to play in full pads this spring because of a shoulder injury.

"We're not a tremendously deep team, and we're playing without seven quality players," Stoops said of some of Arizona's spring problems. "Not having Darrell hurts us."

Stoops said maintaining the players' health is a top priority in the spring, along with improved play on the field.

"There are no major injuries," he said. "That's a key during spring ball, get better and escape injuries."