CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Head coach Mike Stoops has a chat with James Alford during the second spring 2005 football scrimmage.

The Arizona football team holds its third weekend scrimmage of the spring tomorrow at 9:15 a.m. at Arizona Stadium.

The intersquad matchup is the final in the Wildcats' spring schedule before the annual Spring Game, to be played April 23.

Head coach Mike Stoops said the scrimmage would consist of about 100 set plays with full contact. A full officiating crew will oversee play.

Stoops said he is pleased with the team's progress thus far, particularly on the offensive end.

"I'm very happy with how the offense is coming along. I like how well the receivers and quarterback are interacting," he said.

Junior Adam Austin has filled in at quarterback for sophomore Richard Kovalcheck, passing for more than 500 yards in his previous two scrimmages.

Wide receivers Mike Jefferson, Anthony Johnson, Syndric Steptoe and B.J. Vickers have impressed the coaching staff.

Johnson caught a touchdown pass Saturday.

Vickers, a junior college transfer from Santa Monica, Calif., has changed the face of the Wildcat offense, said sophomore cornerback Wilrey Fontenot.

"Before we've faced a lot of athleticism, but B.J. brings a lot of physical play, and he's athletic," he said.

Joining Austin in the backfield are three running backs offensive coordinator Mike Canales called "monsters" - seniors Mike Bell and Gilbert Harris and redshirt sophomore Chris Henry.

Henry led the ground attack Saturday with 78 yards rushing.

Canales said Arizona's offensive line is responsible for much of the success in the running game and beyond.

"If they keep opening those holes, (the running backs) will keep busting through them," he said after last weekend's scrimmage.

Brandon Lopez and Ronnie Palmer, a pair of redshirt freshmen, have already made impacts on defense.

Lopez was Arizona's leading tackler last week with seven, while Palmer made four hits.

Sophomore cornerback Antoine Cason said the offense's play has forced the defense to up its intensity, a positive for both sides.

The defense is playing without two upperclassmen, safety Darrell Brooks and linebacker Spencer Larsen.

Brooks is sidelined with a shoulder injury, but is expected back for summer play.

Larsen injured his knee two weeks ago. Stoops said Larsen will undergo surgery Tuesday to repair the damage and will likely miss six months.

Arizona finishes its spring schedule next week with the final of its 15 NCAA-allowed workouts before the Spring Game.