FERRIDAY — At Jimmy Wilkinson and Ronnie Lewis’ houses Saturday, a friendly little debate was ongoing as Ole Miss and LSU fans gathered to watch the game Saturday.

No, it wasn’t a debate about which team was better; but rather, who could cook better jambalaya.

“The LSU jambalaya is better,” insisted Wilkinson, an LSU fan. “It’s Cajun-cooked.”

Wilkinson’s father, Linous Wilkinson, begged to differ.

“The Ole Miss jambalaya is way better,” insisted the elder Wilkinson. “It’s got more spice and more flavor. It’s not as dry as that coonass stuff.”

Whether you were a fan of the Ole Miss or LSU jambalaya, there was plenty of it to go around at the annual Brother Bowl Saturday evening on Mimosa Drive. Jimmy and Lewis have hosted the annual Ole Miss-LSU game get-together for several years. For Jimmy, the Brother Bowl is a chance to flaunt his Tiger fandom to his brother and father, both Rebels fans.

“I’ve been an LSU fan all my life. I grew up in a family of Ole Miss fans, but you have to be a rebel,” Jimmy joked.

With the three of them living in Louisiana — the elder Wilkinson’s house in next to his sons’ — Jimmy said he feels right at home. Linous, though, said he wonders how he ended up surrounded by Tiger fans.

“I was born and raised in Natchez, so I don’t know how I got over here,” Linous said. “It’s hell (being surrounded by LSU fans), but I love it. If we could just beat them once, that’d be nice.”

The elder Wilkinson would end up getting his wish, as Ole Miss topped LSU, 27-24, on a last-second field goal.

Guest Frank Goody drove all the way from just outside Marksville, La., to make the party as a guest of Lewis’.

“It’s my first time, but it won’t be my last time,” Goody said. “I’ve enjoyed it. He’s invited me for three straight years, but something always came up.”

There was even live music on hand as former Ferriday mayor Glen McGlothin and the rest of Easy Eddie and the Partyrockers entertained guests before the game, at halftime and after the game.

“I’ve been out here many times, but this is my first time to play,” McGlothin explained. “This is one of those great — no, legendary parties. It’s fun.”

Perhaps trying to pander to both audiences, McGlothin was dressed in a red coat and pants with a purple shirt. But McGlothin said his loyalties are no secret.

“If I wear Ole Miss stuff, it’s a serious problem,” McGlothin joked.

Guest Jamie Smith is friends with Lewis’ wife, Melanie, and she said she’s enjoyed the Brother Bowl every year it’s been in existence.

“We do this every year, and we have so much fun,” Smith said. “It gets bigger every year.”