Clarendon College continued their quest to defend their ISSA/DaCosta Cup title with a 6-0 victory over Thompson Town High at Foga Road High on Wednesday.

Justin Hayles and Keanu Jennings both scored doubles to help the defending champs move to a perfect nine points from as many games to lead Zone H.

Denbigh High moved up into second place in Zone H after their 5-1 win over Edwin Allen High at Edwin Allen.

Three other schools also got their third win as Ocho Rios High, William Knibb Memorial and Manchester High secured victories over Aabuthnott Gallimore, Discovery Bay High and deCarteret College, respectively.

Ocho Rios High improved their advantage in Zone K after a 4-0 win over Aabuthnott Gallimore High with Tyrese Brown scoring a hat trick and Ryan Francis getting the other.

Ocho Rios High are now on nine points after a third straight win, four more than second place Ferncourt High.

William Knibb Memorial managed a 1-0 win over Discovery Bay High for their third win in Zone D while Michael Reid and Javis Lloyd scored for Manchester High in their 2-1 win over deCarteret College.

Tyrese Gowe and Raheem Harris both scored doubles to lead Dinthill Technical to a 6-0 win over Charlemont High as Gaybriel Anderson and Giovanni Afflick also got one goal each.

This was the second win for Dinthill Technical who now lead Zone J on goal difference over McGrath High.

At Jarrett Park, St James High rallied twice to earn an exciting 3-3 draw against Green Pond High in Zone A.

Green Pond got off to a fast start and were leading 2-0 with goals from Garth-Dane Bromwell in the seventh minute and Jerome Whynn in the 16th minute.

St James hit back with goals from Kevar Stewart in the 36th minute and Rory Smith in the 43rd minute as they were tied at 2-2 at half time.

Bromwell restored Green Pond High’s lead in the 46th minute but St James salvaged a point when Tariq Kerr scored in the 77th minute.

Garvey Maceo rebounded from their loss to Glenmuir High on Saturday with a 12-1 beating of Porus High with Omarion O’Brian and Rajay McLaughlin both leading the way with hat tricks while Maliek Robinson scored a brace.

Other results

Maggoty High 2-0 Lacovia High

Mile Gully High 0-2 Alphansus Davis High

Holmwood Technical 3-1 Knox College

Claude McKay High 0-3 Lennon High

Yallahs High 0-2 Morant Bay High

Robert Lightbourne High 1-3 Paul Bogle High

Seaforth High 0-4 Happy Grove High

Titchfield High 2-1 St. Mary High

Horace Clarke High 1-4 Port Antonio High

Defending champions Clarendon College opened their ISSA DaCosta Cup campaign with a tense 2-1 win over Denbigh High at the Catherine Hall Stadium in Montego Bay, Jamaica on Saturday.

Clarendon College took an early lead in the fourth minute when Justin Hayles latched on to a through ball to finish across Denbigh goalkeeper Kevin Pryce into the bottom corner.

They went two ahead when Terron Williams scored directly from a corner kick in the 22^nd minute.

Denbigh were the more attacking team to start the second 45 minutes and were handed a lifeline when Tayo Cross converted a late spot kick won by substitute Rahjaun Cassanova.

In the end, however, Clarendon College held their nerve to ensure that they got the three points to kick off the defense of their title.

Clarendon College will next take on Lennon High on September 14 while Denbigh will face Claude McKay a day earlier.

 Reggae Boyz Captain and JustBet Ambassador Andre Blake made a significant contribution to his alma mater, Clarendon College, by donating $500,000 to support the school's athletic and infrastructural development. This donation reflects Blake's ongoing commitment to giving back to the community that helped shape his personal and professional life.

At a special handing over ceremony at the school on Tuesday September 3, 2024, Blake, a proud alumnus, expressed his deep gratitude for the role the institution played in his early development. "Clarendon College was one of the key institutions that contributed to my growth as a footballer and a person. The school means a lot to me, and I'm honoured to be able to give back in a meaningful way," Blake said. "I hope this donation will inspire the students here to pursue their dreams, both in academics and athletics."

The $500,000 donation, which was facilitated through Blake’s partnership with the Supreme Ventures Foundation and Sagicor Foundation, will be used to expand the school’s football playing facilities creating better opportunities for students in sports to develop their skills.

Principal David Wilson expressed his appreciation for the donation, noting its positive impact on the school's programs. "We are extremely grateful to Andre Blake and the Supreme Ventures Foundation for their generous contribution that will help us greatly enhance the sporting experience for our students," Wilson said.

Blake, who currently plays for the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer (MLS) and serves as captain of the Jamaican national team, has a long-standing commitment to philanthropy and youth development. His donation to Clarendon College is part of his broader effort to support the next generation of athletes and leaders in Jamaica.

With the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) schoolboy football competitions serving as a feeder for the country's youth programmes, President Keith Wellington believes it is only fair that the schools' efforts are recognised when their respective players are called up for national duties.

Wellington's aired his grievances, as he is of the view that when Manning and daCosta Cup players are mentioned for national duties, they are recognised by their club affiliation and not necessarily by the schools they represent. 

As such, he called on the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) to be mindful of this and, by extension, to show the schools and ISSA more respect for their contributions in nurturing and developing these young talents.

“It would be nice when our national youth teams are named; you recognise the schools that these young men come from because we invest so much in them,” Wellington said during the schoolboy football competitions launch at the Stadium East on Wednesday.

“No disrespect to Mr [Rudolph] Speid and other club owners but when a young man turns up to attend national training, the first place he goes is to his coach or principal to say ‘Sir, I don’t have a boots’ or ‘I need fair to go to camp.’

“So give us a little respect and at least say that this boy played for Clarendon College or Mona High in the ISSA competitions because the truth is, without it, as bad Jamaica’s football is now, it would be worse. I’m asking our partners, the JFF, to give us some credit,” he added.

Wellington also urged the Michael Ricketts-led JFF to do their part in assisting ISSA to improve the schoolboy football product.

“Help our competitions be better. Train more referees so we don’t have to take our kids out of school on a Monday to play a match because we have to be spreading the games over five or six days of the week — focus on that,” a seemingly peeved Wellington stated.