Football Team Honors Fallen Teammate

By BEN SOSENKO

Updated 10:45 PM EST, Thu, Nov 26, 2009

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The dream of winning an MVP award on Thanksgiving day after winning a football game is shared by many. 16 year old Matthew Buriak won the award this Thursday. Sadly, it was his parents and sister who accepted the award for him.

Buriak collapsed during last Saturday's JV football game for Ledyard high. He died Tuesday, from what the family is calling a non-football related aneurism.

Thanksgiving day, just two days after Buriak died, the Ledyard football team took the field with the Buriak family in the stands. They defeated Fitch 35-6.

"My son had an effect on so many people," said Matthew's father Leon Buriak. "We're just truly blessed for the time that we had with him."

The Buriak family was presented Matthew's jersey, and the game ball for the MVP.

"It mean the world to us," said team captain AJ Wilcox about seeing Buriak's family at the game. "A lot of people asked if we were going to come out and play today and it wasn't even a choice. We had to come out and play for Matt."

The family thanked the community for all their support and for allowing their privacy the past couple of days. They said coming to the game and watching a victory meant so much to them.

"They played with their hearts, their heads. That's how he played," said Matt's mom, Roberta Buriak.