WINCHESTER (CBS) – A pair of longtime football rivals came together Saturday to honor a high school player who died too young.

One week after Winchester High senior and football captain Patrick Gill died in a car accident, his team took the field against their rivals from Woburn.

There wasn’t an empty seat at Winchester High’s first football game since losing Gill in that tragic car accident. His family was on hand for the tribute by both teams.

Before the fans began to fill, there was a somber moment when Winchester High’s remaining football captains carried in a banner honoring their friend and teammate.

Gill’s younger brother, Brendan, took the field with them before the game, wearing No. 11 and walking in place of his big brother.

Outside the gates, Woburn and Winchester fans put the rivalry on hold as hundreds bought T-shirts with Gll’s name and number.

“I think he’d be honored I think he’d love it,” said Sam Criss, a Winchester High senior who designed the shirt honoring his late friend.

“Honestly, it was a way for me to cope with it. I like to design, I like to make things and I thought this would bring everyone closer together and make a little bit more happiness,” he said.

Nearly 300 Woburn High students made T-shirts, too, raising almost $2,000.

Rachel Scribner never met Gill but his death touched her, so she decided to make the shirt ahead of the rivalry game.

“I think it shows that the Gill family doesn’t stand alone,” Scribner said. “Even the biggest rivals are here for them no matter what.”

The Gills were surrounded by a huge crowd and everywhere you looked at the field, there was Patrick Gill’s name and number.

Before kickoff there was a moment of silence and then the crowd was asked to welcome Brendan Gill as honorary captain.

At the front gates, instead of an entry fee fans were instead asked to make contributions to a fund that along with the proceeds from the T-shirt sales will be donated in Pat Gill’s name.

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