MONTEGO BAY, St James — Defending champions Rusea’s High will lead a group of 12 schools seeking a berth in the quarterfinals of the ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel daCosta Cup as the Inter-Zone round comes to a close this afternoon.

Seven schools, four which have won both matches played so far and are on six points, and another three who are on four and lead their groups, need only a point to progress to the top eight.

The winners of all six groups and the next best second-placed teams will qualify for the quarters which will see four teams in two groups vying for the semi-finals set for November 26.

Meanwhile, there are two changes to the original schedule. The times in the Jarrett Park double-header have been switched, with out-of-contention St James High and St Mary High playing the first match at 1:00 pm, and Rusea’s and Marcus Garvey Technical meeting at 3:00 pm.

Also, the Clarendon College vs Knox College game that was originally scheduled for the Juici Beef complex has been shifted to Jamalco and will start at 1:00 pm.

Today, group leaders Frome Technical, Rusea’s, Manchester, STETHS, Glenmuir and Paul Bogle, as well as Cedric Titus, only need a draw to secure their places, while another five schools will be gunning for the other second-place spot.

The second group includes Marcus Garvey Technical and Cornwall, Petersfield, Tacius Golding and Buff Bay.

Among the more closely watched games today will be the Drax Hall clash between joint Group One leaders Frome and Cedric Titus, where a draw would see both schools advance as no other second-placed team can get seven points.

On paper, Frome Technical are, however, the stronger team and a win for the Westmoreland school would open the gate for several other hopefuls who can also finish on six points and it would take tie-breakers to help decide the two best second-placed teams.

Cedric Titus have, however, defied the odds so far by beating both St Mary High and St James to be a point away from their first ever quarter-finals berth.

There will be two matches involving teams on four points each: Ben Francis KO champions St Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS) will face Petersfield needing only a point, but will face a team that is full of confidence, coming off a win over Knox College after drawing with Clarendon College.

STETHS will have home field advantage, but could be facing their toughest opponents in the Inter-Zone so far — a team that has little to lose and all to gain.

The last time STETHS lost at home was in 2009 when they succumbed 2-3 to Munro College in the final game of the regular season.

Paul Bogle will have a slight advantage over Buff Bay in their Group Six clash at York Oval, and while needing only a draw to advance past the Inter-Zone round for the first time in four straight tries, must be wary of an upset.

Another interesting match up will be at Kirkvine where Manchester High will face last year’s beaten finalists Lennon High who, despite drawing both games so far, would advance with a win today.

Both teams drew 0-0 last year and another draw would favour Manchester High.

While both Rusea’s and former champions Glenmuir High are favoured to advance, there will be another race going on for the Golden Boot.

Glenmuir’s Noel Johnson leads the official goalscoring tables with six goals, one ahead of Rusea’s Brian Brown, who won the title last year and took the award for most goals in the first round with 24 goals.

TODAY’S SCHEDULE:

St Mary Tech vs Cornwall College

@ Highgate 3:00 pm

Cedric Titus vs Frome Tech @ Drax Hall 3:00 pm

Manchester vs Lennon @ Kirkvine 3:00 pm

Clarendon College vs Knox College

@ Jamalco Patties 1:00 pm

Glenmuir vs Tacius Golding

@ Juici Patties 3:00 pm

Rusea’s vs Marcus Garvey

@ Jarrett Park 3:00 pm

St James vs St Mary High

@ Jarrett Park 1:00 pm

Port Antonio vs St Thomas Tech

@ Carder Park 3:00 pm

Paul Bogle vs Buff Bay @ York Oval 3:00 pm

Grange Hill vs Munro @ Frome 3:00 pm

STETHS vs Petersfield @ STETHS 3:00 pm

Old Harbour vs Denbigh @ Jamalco 3:00 pm