Another Georgia HS Footballer Dies At Practice

For the second time this year, a Georgia high school football player has died while at practice.

Students at Marion County Middle High School are mourning the loss of their friend who collapsed during a football practice Tuesday evening.

As the team was running plays, 18-year-old Erick Gutierrez bent over to get into his stance and fell over.

Paramedics responded, but he could not be revived. Gutierrez was later pronounced dead at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center.

Chauncy Glover of WTVM-TV in Columbus caught up with some of Gutierrez's friends and teammates- including one who was right next to him when he collapsed...


Gutierrez was a Senior from Buena Vista, Georgia. He was an offensive lineman and participant of his high school’s film club. Gutierrez was college-bound, interested in studying business.

“Just a wonderful kid. Outgoing, always smiling. Don’t know anyone who didn’t love him,“ said Glenn Tidwell, principal of Marion County Middle High School.

Autopsy results are pending.
The family has set funeral arrangements for Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.

Alison Flowers and Shawn Skillman from WRBL-TV in Columbus have in-depth coverage...


Marion County's county seat is a town called Buena Vista...
It's pronounced "Byoona Vista"- cut with the jokes...it's their town...

Marion County, along with two other counties in the area with small populations, merged back in the 1970's to form Tri-County High School.

The schools eventually broke off to form their own county schools once again after the 2000 school year. Marion is scheduled to play Schley County, one of the Tri-County schools, Friday in a region game. Schley Head Coach Jim McFather will have his players wear a #54 sticker on their helmets in support of Marion County.

Another reminder that football is only a game...