SELF CONTAINED—Amite defenders Josh Gant, Lesley Deamer and Tim Wilson, here taking down St. Helena’s Darin Self, will lead the Warrior defense into Friday's district opener vs. Independence. By John Lenz

AMITE — Independence and Amite are not wasting any time settling into District 10-3A play.

The border rivals and perennial contenders meet in the district opener Friday night at Amite at 7 p.m.

"It's a big one," Amite head coach Alden Foster said. "When you have Amite and Independence, everybody knows what it stands for. To start district, it's a very big game."

This is the fourth straight year the Tigers and Warriors have played in the first week of district and Indy head coach Keith Carona said there are pros and cons to having the rivalry so early.

"You don't want to play that game as early, but then you do get that big rivalry game out the way and you can focus on the rest of the season," Carona said. "There are advantages and disadvantages."

Foster said one of the advantages is that the game tells you a lot about your team going into the final stretch.

"You have to face them eventually, so you might as well face them in the meat of your schedule so you see where you stand," Foster said.

Where both teams stand is among the top 15 in the state in Class 3A. Amite (4-0) is currently ranked fourth in the LSWA poll while Indy (3-1) is tied for 15th.

“(But) what we've done up to this point doesn't mean a thing, because district is what determines the playoffs and the kids, I believe, understand that,” Foster said. “I like the senior leadership. They have been there before. They won district (last season) so it's our district title to defend but we're facing a quality Independence ballclub led by (quarterback) Chris Carter. They have a great team so we have our work cut out for us."

Independence has faced three Top 20 teams, losing to John Ehret and defeating Varnado and Salmen. The Tigers are coming off a 20-8 win at Franklin Parish last Friday.

"We've improved every week and we feel really good about our team," Carona said. " We had a solid victory over a very good Salmen team and continued our success at Franklin Parish. We have a good bit of experience and we feel we are a lot better team this year than we were last year at this time.

“We know that Amite is one of the top four teams in the state of Louisiana in Class 3A. We feel like we could very well be one of the top four or five teams in Louisiana, and this Friday we have the opportunity to see if we belong there."

The game will feature some of the top athletes in the state. Amite is averaging 36 points a game offensively, led by QB Brandon Mitchell and WR Rodriquez Sibley. Mitchell threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns, both to Sibley, in a 39-6 win over St. Helena last Friday. He also ran for two touchdowns.

"Those are two special athletes," said Carona, but adds his team cannot afford to overlook the Warriors rushing attack, led by Damien Bazeley and Jermil Perkins.

"Their running game has really come around the last several weeks where it's definitely a big threat," Carona said. "And that's not including Brandon Mitchell in the running game. He's running a whole lot better than he was last year at this time. He's a whole lot better quarterback than he was. I think he came around starting in our game last year."

Amite has played just as well, if not better, on defense, allowing a total of 12 points in four games.

"They've got nearly every one back from last year and they had a good defense last year," Carona said. "Their end, Gary Bryant, reminds me of the Kentwood Eugene Thompson years when you just had to go out there and battle and fight and try to scrap for every first down you get. They are strong at middle linebacker with the (Josh) Gant kid and it's one of the most talented Amite secondaries that I've ever seen."

Independence counters with an offense led by Carter and RB Reggie Sims. Carter has passed for 413 yards and four TDs and ran for another 183 yards and three scores. Sims (46-315, 3 TDs) and Marshall Bellazen (44-244, 2 TDs) carry the mail, and Darrin Arline (12 catches, 190 yds., 2 TDs) is Carter's best target.

Defensively, the Tigers are allowing just over 14 points per game.

"They run the ball very well and they have big receivers who go after the football," Foster said. "Defensively they are big and they are going to be where they are supposed to be. They are not going to be out of place.

“They've faced some stiff competition and to come out of their pre-district schedule 3-1 says a lot about the type of ballclub they have."

Carona said the game could come down to turnovers and field position.

"Hopefully we can come out on the positive end of the field position aspect of the game," Carona said. "We feel if we can play on a shorter field than they do, it could give us an advantage and special teams play a role in that. I think it's just going to be a good football game between two very competitive teams and all those little details come into play."

Indy and Amite have split the last two meetings, with the Tigers winning 6-0 in 2006 and Amite taking a 25-14 win last season.

"It's the first district game and on top of that it's Independence against Amite," Carona said. "The kids are excited, the coaches are excited, the communities are excited. It's something that happens once a year and it's a lot of fun. It's what high school athletics is all about."