Mansfield went into the 1989 season after almost leaving the Hockomock League and ended up winning the title. "Sam and the other seniors took it as a challenge," said Reading. "They never surrendered and Sam Butler had a lot to do with that."

Butler was All-Hock as a running back and was also selected to all-star teams as a defensive back. He scored 11 touchdowns in the 1989 season, caught 13 passes for 272 yards and rushed for 652 yards. On defense, he recorded 66 tackles, had four interceptions, recovered a fumble and blocked a punt.

He graduated from Plymouth State College, receiving a degree in accounting. He works as the assistant treasurer and secretary at Guild Drilling Co. Inc. and lives in town. "It is a tremendous honor," said Butler.

Cruser now lives in New Orleans and is a senior management analyst and assistant to the Director the Navy Space and Naval Warfare Information Technology Center. Although, he lives down South, Cruser keeps in touch with Hornets by going on the team's web site. He manages to get back to his hometown as couple of times a year and stays in contact with his teammates. One of his teammates, Ken Fallon, was with him during his introduction.

It's a great honor," said Cruser. "The whole football experience means a lot to me." Cruser was a Naval officer, serving on seven ships, including being the commanding officer of USS Donald B. Berry and at the U.S. Naval Station in New Orleans.

Cruser remembered playing in front of large crowds during the Thanksgiving Day games with Foxboro. When he was asked after the banquet he also went through most of the lineups of the, Mansfield teams during his era. His experience wearing the Mansfield uniform has helped him a great deal through his life.

When I was plebe at the Naval Academy, I used what I had learned about teamwork," he said. "I have friends who are CEOs and they always tell me to hire the jock, because they know what it takes to work as a team."

Cruser enjoyed his night being back with the Mansfield football program, hearing about and seeing the players from this year's team. It made him think back to when he was wearing the green. "Mostly, I remember how much I liked it" he said. "I played with a lot of great athletes, who are certainly deserving of this honor."

He spent 25 years in the Marines and was on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, fighting in many battles. Ferzoco was also employed in the tele-communications field.