History behind the Little Brown Jug football rivalry

LAUREL, MS (WDAM) - Hattiesburg and Laurel have met each other on the gridiron every year since 1922.

The Little Brown Jug game, as it is called, was not even stopped by war or the nation's worst natural disaster.

If you ask people why the game is called Little Brown Jug, you may get a few different stories.

Hattiesburg High School Athletic Director Cheyenne Trussell said two men traveled to the game by train back in the day, which was common, of course, and they would bet a jug of whiskey on the game.

Contrary to that legend, former Laurel player and current Laurel administrator Jaymar Jackson said the rivalry name comes from a similar game at a university.

Regardless of the history, it is the longest standing continuous rivalry in the state of Mississippi. Defending state champion Laurel is seven games ahead of Hattiesburg going into Friday's 94th match-up, but Hattiesburg is ready to defend its 2014 Brown Jug Title.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. in Laurel.

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