Some 6,000 fans turned out to Sheff Field in Turners Falls on November 27, 1969, taking in one of the most well-attended games in the history of the Greenfield-Turners Falls Thanksgiving Day football rivalry.
When it was over, the visiting Greenies emerged victorious, when senior tailback Mark Peters was carried off the field following his game-winning 15-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter and subsequent two-point conversion run.
Final score: Greenfield 14, Turners Falls 6.
Wednesday marks 50 years to the day since that historic moment in Turkey Day lore.
Peters, now 68 years old and living in Northampton, certainly remembers that particular holiday with aplomb. Reached by phone on Tuesday, he fondly recalled his Superman moment that sent the Greenfield faithful into a frenzy.
“It was an exhilarating moment,” said Peters of the game-winning touchdown and subsequent celebration. “I couldn’t believe it.”
“More than 6,000 excited fans gasped at the fantastic running of senior halfback Mark Peters, Greenfield’s offensive fireball whose second effort performance was one major key to the victory. He scored the winning points late in the fourth period.” — Bob Dolan, the Recorder, 1969
Peters’ performance continued a family tradition of Thanksgiving excellence. His cousin Herbie Peters scored a 2-yard touchdown in the 1956 game for Greenfield, when the Green Wave also won by an identical 14-6 score. Herbie Peters was a co-captain on the ’56 team along with Harry Ruddock.
“Turned out to be the best Turkey Day encounter in many years. Greenfield’s lines showed its spunk by turning back the Indians on crucial plays and was particularly rugged late in the fourth period when Turners had a first and 10 on the home 10. The ensuing 80 yard touchdown drive, engineered mostly by (Herb) Peters, capped a successful day for the Green.” — Bill Steinecke, the Recorder, 1956
Both players helped pave the way for African Americans during the early years of the Greenfield-Turners Falls rivalry. It’s not something that Mark Peters takes lightly.
“Sometimes those things can go by the wayside a little bit,” he offered. “There’s a lot of history there.”
For Mark Peters, that victory 50 years to the day proved to be the perfect ending to his high school career. The team was a slight underdog entering Thanksgiving, with coach Cy Desautels’ club sporting just a 1-6-1 record through eight games. Turners had standout quarterback Artie Burke leading the charge, and the Powertown had won three of the previous four meetings between the rivals.
“It was great,” Peters said. “We made it a great day.”
Mark Peters went on to attend Cheshire Academy for a postgraduate year and then UMass, graduating in 1975. He worked for 32 years as a train conductor before retiring.