West Islip High School football team honors player killed in house fire
WEST ISLIP, N.Y. -- Friday night, the West Islip High School football team took the field for the first time since the tragic deaths of a player and his brother.
It started with a moment of silence on the field after nearly a week of grieving the loss of two brothers, 24-year-old Matthew Kreamer and 16-year-old Kyle Deligame, killed in a house fire.
Kreamer was a West Islip High School graduate, and Deligame was a senior on the football team.
The team wore shirts saying "We play for Kyle" and helmets with Kyle's number.
"This was most definitely just a game in remembrance of him," classmate Daniel Kossman said.
The fire broke out Saturday morning at the brothers' Udall Road home. Their parents made it out alive. Their family told us John Deligame had to push his wife, Toni Kreamer, out of a window to save her life.
Toni Kreamer's brother was one of at least a dozen family members at Friday's game with front row seats.
"Physically they're both healing, and then mentally, we start from there," Michael Kenney said.
His family told CBS New York's Kristie Keleshian they're very grateful for the community's love.
"I really just want to thank the community. I can't tell you how much that the community support and love that my sister and brother-in-law have seen for the boys is really what's pushing them through this. I grew up in West Islip, my brother grew up in West Islip, my sister grew up in West Islip, so the boys are here and seeing what this community has done has been absolutely amazing and there are no words. Just keep it coming because they're going to need it," Kenney said.
"I just want to say thank you for everything that's been done. I mean, it's amazing. Everyone has come together and donated so much for the family," said Kreamer's aunt Carla Kreamer.
"I've never seen a community pull together so much. There's no words for it," said Thomas Kreamer, Kreamer's uncle.
A heartfelt tribute to the family kicked off the close game against Half Hollow Hills East. The brothers were known as jokesters, especially Kyle. The team decorated his locker with upside-down water bottles on top, a nod to a prank he'd pull on his teammates, who say he'd bring laughs to the locker room.
"It just made people smile, some people angry, but all in all, we all had fun and we all loved him," teammate Nicholas Spencer said.
Friday would've also been Kyle's 17th birthday, and in his memory, the game ended with a big win for the West Islip Lions.
"Kyle, I know you're flying high up there right now. We miss you, buddy, we do," Kossman said.
Family tells us the brothers' parents are expected to make a full recovery.
In just under a week, a GoFundMe for the family has already raised almost four times its goal, showing just how much love and support is pouring in.