KEVIN B. KLAUS/Arizona Daily Wildcat Sophomore runningback Chris Henry breaks a tackle during Saturday's scrimmage at Arizona Stadium. Saturday marked the 11th of the 15 days allotted by the NCAA for preseason practice.

The Arizona football team heads into its fourth and final week of spring practice after its third open scrimmage Saturday morning at Arizona Stadium.

The scrimmage was Arizona's last before the annual Spring Game to be played Saturday.

Arizona head coach Mike Stoops said the team's play is close to what it should be at this point in workouts, with Arizona holding the last of its NCAA-allowed 15 practices.

"In every aspect our kids (have) become much more comfortable," he said. "The most change in a program comes between the first and the second seasons."

Stoops lauded the play of the defense Saturday.

"The offensive execution today wasn't as good as it has been, (and) that was because of the defense," he said.

Linebacker Ronnie Palmer led all tacklers with six, while defensive end Copeland Bryan recorded three sacks for the second straight week.

"The coaches have worked with us on stopping the inside running game," Bryan said.

Bryan said that a trademark of spring practice is the ability for the team on either side of the ball to dominate on a given day.

"There's always ups and downs in spring ball. It'll be the offense one day and the defense the next," he said.

Bryan said he is looking to carry over the intensity of the spring into the fall with the hope of catching NFL scouts' attention.

"Next year's got to be a big year, and hopefully I'll get a chance to play at the next level," he said.

Stoops said offensively, redshirt junior quarterback Adam Austin continues to impress.

The former walk-on from Mundelein, Ill., completed the workout with 191 yards on 20-of-48 passing.

"Adam is showing us a lot of great poise," Stoops said. "We feel the quarterback is a position where we'll have a lot of strength next year."

Austin has taken nearly every snap the past three weeks in the absence of last season's starter, redshirt sophomore Richard Kovalcheck, who is recovering from back surgery.

Stoops said that Austin's play is important to the team's success in 2005.

"Competition breeds success, and we need that competition all the way across the board," he said.

Another position with friendly competition is running back, where three Wildcats have impressed coaches thus far.

Mike Bell, Gilbert Harris and Chris Henry have shared time in the backfield throughout the spring and all made contributions.

"We all feed off each other," said Henry, who led the way Saturday with 53 yards on 10 carries.

Bell also rushed 10 times, registering 28 yards and scoring one touchdown on a dive over the defense into the end zone.

The Wildcats continue closed practices this week in preparation for the Spring Game, which kicks off at 1:30 p.m. at Arizona Stadium.