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Whether Willie Tuitama is the Pac-10's best quarterback is a topic best saved for bars, talk radio shows and Internet message boards.

But this much is true: Heading into the 2008 season, nobody in the conference throws a better deep ball.

Tuitama has just the right combination of arm strength and touch to turn games around with one looping, parabolic loft down the sidelines.

"I just like throwing the ball down the field a little bit," Tuitama said. "We have the guys to do it. When we do it right, it's a real big threat."

With Tuitama leading the way, the Arizona Wildcats looked like worldbeaters in Saturday's scrimmage at Arizona Stadium. Utilizing a vertical passing attack for the first time this spring, the UA offense converted on 10 to 12 long passes to neutralize a surging defense.

Wide receivers Delashaun Dean and Terrell Reese both caught passes of 50 or more yards from Tuitama in the Cats' offensive binge.

Tuitama was masterful, completing 25 of 40 passes for 426 yards and two touchdowns. And — how's this for luck? — Tuitama's only interception was voided when defensive end D'Aundre Reed was flagged for a penalty.

The Cats' quarterback was best when flaunting his devastating deep ball. He connected on passes of 35, 39, 50, 60 and 70 yards. Seven of his completions went for 25 yards or more.

"Willie was on point today," Reese said.

Tuitama's yardage totals on Saturday nearly tripled the 150-yard effort he posted a week ago, when the Wildcats' offense slogged its way through a disappointing performance.

Saturday, the quarterback said he was allowed to take more shots downfield. Tuitama found Reese on a slant route for a 70-yard scoring pass on the scrimmage's 92nd — and final — play. Reese finished with a team-high 133 yards on five catches; he scored two touchdowns.

"T. Reese came up big today — he just ran past everyone," Tuitama said. "With our wide receivers, we have playmakers all over the place."

Said offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes: "We expect that out of Terrell all the time."

Even the Wildcats' reserves provided some highlights.

Second-string tight end A.J. Simmons had a 25-yard catch from quarterback Tyler Lyon. Backup receiver Derick Barkum caught a streak route for 60 yards. And little-used Shawn Trowbridge elicited cheers with a one-handed grab.

To be fair, the Wildcats' defense was missing two starters.

Cornerback Devin Ross was forced to sit with a hip flexor injury that he suffered in Wednesday's practice. Defensive tackle Johnathan Turner was a no-show for unspecified reasons.

Stoops declined to comment on Turner's status after the scrimmage, but a team spokesman confirmed that the senior is not taking part in any team activities.

Spokesman Tom Duddleston Jr. stopped short of saying Turner has been suspended.

"He's not with us," Duddleston said.

Turner is the second defensive lineman to leave the team this week. Walk-on defensive tackle Josh Lewis was suspended indefinitely earlier this week after his sexually explicit video clip was posted on the Internet.

The absence of all three defenders left the Wildcats short on the second and third strings. Coaches played a half-dozen defensive players who will likely start the season on the practice squad.

"Some of it, you don't worry about," defensive coordinator Mark Stoops said. "You throw 'em out there and let the offense work. It's good for us to have them win some. It'll force us to play better."