Kids win benefit match in OT

Coosa High School faculty and students face off on the soccer field to add to the scholarship fund honoring Fernando Guzman.

Coosa High School faculty and students face off on the soccer field to add to the scholarship fund honoring Fernando Guzman.

Students and faculty tangled on the soccer field at Coosa High School on Thursday in the second annual Fernando Cup.

The game was started last year as a benefit for Fernando Guzman who has battled cancer. The young soccer enthusiast has lost his left arm and left leg in his struggle with the disease. Guzman was also honored recently with an ACE Award by the Exchange Club of Rome for his courage in overcoming adversity.

Students and staff poured into the school stadium Thursday afternoon to support Fernando.

Ticket sales for the match netted $1,600 for the Fernando Scholarship Fund.

The event also included an added surprise for students as the man they know as Mr. Parker returned from active duty in the Middle East to participate in the match. Chris Parker organized the inaugural event last year when he was the head coach of the girls soccer team.

The soccer game ended regulation tied at 2-2. The student team won the match in the overtime shootout. ABOVE: Coosa teacher Charman Putnam (from left) gets organizational help from Jose Reyes and Junior Guzman, who are on the school’s soccer team and, thus, ineligible to play. BELOW: Students (in black) and faculty (in yellow) square off.

Diane Wagner / Rome News-Tribune Coosa student players surround Fernando Guzman (in wheelchair), a former soccer player who lost his arm and leg to cancer. Guzman is the team coach for the annual soccer match between students and faculty to raise money for a scholarship named in his...