Ledyard player remains critical

Ledyard - Matthew Buriak, the 16-year-old Ledyard junior varsity football player who collapsed during a game Saturday, remains in critical condition this morning at the Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford.

Hospital spokesman Chris Boyle could not offer further information on Buriak's condition.

Scores of friends and fellow football players gathered at Ledyard High School Sunday night to pray for the recovery of Buriak, a junior wide receiver who collapsed during a game Saturday at Fitch High School in Groton.

The 16-year-old Buriak collapsed while in a huddle between plays in a junior varsity game.

Superintendent of Schools Michael Graner said Buriak's condition was related to "an illness, not an injury," though he said he couldn't specify what caused Buriak's collapse.

"We're all praying," Graner said. "The team has been briefed about his condition, and we are all extremely concerned."

Graner said medical staff attended to Buriak at the game Saturday morning, and he was rushed by ambulance to The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich.

Things seemed to be going pretty well later in the day Saturday, Graner said, but he was transferred to the children's hospital Sunday morning and took a turn for the worse in the afternoon. Ledyard football coach Jim Buonocore could not be reached for comment Sunday.

A Facebook page about Buriak quickly circulated around the high school community and more than 150 people had posted comments on it by Sunday night. The page, headlined "Pray for Matt Buriak," had comments such as

"i love you matty b stay strong .... praying for you"

and

"God Bless The Buriak Family. Sending many prayers and love to all of you!"

By 9 p.m. Sunday, the page already had 572 members, but a half hour later that number was up to 626. Buriak - an artist, baseball player and honor roll student - had more than 600 friends on his Facebook page.

"This is a Facebook event," Graner said of Sunday's vigil. "We're basically trying to get everyone to calm down and stop the rumor mill."

Security personnel quizzed people trying to attend the vigil and wouldn't allow reporters to enter the high school. Graner said the security was requested to allow students to grieve in private.

Inside the high school, a sign posted to a door said "Stay Strong Matt," and dozens of students milled about, some hugging one another. A dozen pizzas and soda were lugged into the school at about 7 p.m. as even more cars filled the high school parking lot.

Outside the school, a group of five students held candles in a silent reflection.

"They're very concerned for him," Graner said. "He's a very popular student."

George Francis, who runs the Ledyard-Pawcatuck American Legion Baseball team that competes locally in the spring and summer, called Buriak "a great kid who every coach would like to have on their team - not just because of his ability, but because of his leadership." Buriak, a catcher, was named most valuable player for his Junior Legion team last summer.

"He plays his heart out," said Francis.