Burn Ban in Effect. All outdoor burning is prohibited in Franklin County.
Photo provided by Len Lowry and Greg Carr.
Len Lowry (MV Class of 1969) and Greg Carr (MV Class of 1970) grew up together in Mount Vernon and played in many football games for the Tigers over various years. In the fall of 1968, they were on a District Champion team, and in the fall of 1969, Greg was again on another District Champion team. Len and Greg both played in the offensive backfield and in various positions on the defensive side of the ball.
After many years of living in different towns, Len moved back to Mount Vernon, and they rekindled their friendship through attending the First Baptist Church and at the Franklin County Food Bank, where they both volunteer weekly.
About three weeks ago, they were proudly discussing the fact that they each had grandsons playing on Dallas-area "freshman" football teams. Len's grandson Knox Lowry plays for Lovejoy ISD (in Lucas, TX), and Greg's grandson Jagger Roberts plays for Reedy HS (from the Frisco ISD). When they reviewed each team's schedules, they realized that the teams' first game of the 2026 season was actually against each other!
The game was at the Lovejoy ISD stadium, and Len and Greg went together to see it on Thursday, August 27 (in 102-degree heat at 5:30 pm).
Another coincidental fact was that once the game started, Len and Greg realized that each of their grandsons wore #67 on their jerseys! In fact, there were a number of plays where boys lined up head-to-head against each other (unbeknownst to them).
The chance of this event occurring in a State as large as Texas is unbelievable. If you are from Mount Vernon, just be on the lookout for Mount Vernon ties (even 50-plus-year-old ones)! You might be surprised to find some!!
One other item - Len is still waiting to collect on the bet they made on the game!
