The Simsbury High School football team played Friday's game in honor of teammate Danny Deitz, who received a lifesaving heart transplant less than 24 hours prior.
Danny, 16, a wide receiver, suffered complications from an enlarged heart and missed pre-season after falling ill last spring. He's now recovering from a heart transplant at Boston Children's Hospital.
Although Simsbury fell to East Hartford Friday night, the community still celebrated.
"We're so excited," said Simsbury resident Lindsay English.
The Simsbury team led a chant of "Danny strong" before taking the field, and fans joined in, cheering for the teen who may have been physically absent but was with them in spirit.
Football coach Dave Masters tweeted an update on Danny's condition early Friday after the hours-long transplant was complete.
"Danny update: New heart is in and moving to ICU within the hour. Keep positive thoughts & prayers coming!" he wrote.
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Danny has weeks of recovery and then it could be months before he returns to school.
"We miss him and hope he comes home soon," said Simsbury resident Mike Lancaster.
But Danny has already been fortunate: the two-month wait for a new hart was much shorter than expected. The life-saving surgery came in time for his birthday, just two weeks away.
Even before surgery, Danny said the experience had already changed him.
"I see a lot more happiness in little things," he said.
