MONTEGO BAY, St James — As many as nine more schools, led by defending champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), could secure places in the inter-zone round of the ISSA/LIME daCosta Cup as the return-round continues with 29 games across all 15 zones today.

Former winners Cornwall College and Rusea’s High need only a point from their games to secure their places; Godfrey Stewart High, STETHS, Manchester High, and Mile Gully, as well as Marcus Garvey, Glenmuir High, and Garvey Maceo can also advance.

Zone K is wide open and both places could also be taken depending on the results today.

Four schools — former champions Frome Technical and Clarendon College, as well as Muschett High and Cedric Titus — have already secured their places in the inter-zone round.

Meanwhile, yesterday, Frome Technical moved to within a point of winning Zone B after beating Merlene Ottey 4-1 with the prolific Ekron Scott and Jermaine Clarke scoring along with Javanoi Weise and a defender.

In Zone C, Spot Valley gave up a 3-1 second-half lead as hosts William Knibb stormed back to earn a 3-3 draw.

Today, Cornwall College and St James High will meet in what should be another close game in Zone A. Cornwall College will be seeking to complete the sweep of rivals St James High for the first time since 2007, as St the latter also hope to avoid a third straight loss for the first time in 10 years.

The last time St James High lost three consecutive games was in 2004 when they lost all eight games. They went winless for five games in 2011, but still won the zone.

The 2008 champions are coming off back-to-back losses against Cornwall College (2-0) on Saturday and Green Pond (1-0) on Wednesday, and another loss today would put a dent in their hopes of advancing past the first round.

Cornwall College have won all five games played so far, and a point today would be enough, but the Dr Dean Weatherly-coached team has cruised so far and will be hoping to continue on winning ways.

A draw at Green Island would be good enough for Rusea’s to join Frome Technical from Zone B.

STETHS could be the first qualifier from Zone E with a win over Maggotty High, while a win for Manchester High over deCarteret College in Zone F could also see Mile Gully advancing as well.

Marcus Garvey High should take their place alongside Cedric Titus from Zone I with a win over York Castle, if they get at least a point from Steer Town.

Wins for Glenmuir High and Garvey Maceo High, over Denbigh High and Porus, respectively, will see both winners advance from Zone M.

— Paul A Reid

YESTERDAY’S RESULTS

Zone B

Merlene Ottey 1, Frome Tech 4

Zone C

William Knibb 3, Spot Valley 3

Games today

Zone A

Green Pond vs Anchovy

Cornwall vs St James

Zone B

Green Island vs Rusea’s High

Zone C

Herbert Morrison vs Muschett

Zone D

Black River vs Manning’s

Godfrey Stewart vs Petersfield

Zone E

Munro vs BB Coke

Newell vs Lacovia

STETHS vs Maggotty

Zone F

Manchester High vs DeCarteret

College

Cross Keys vs Mile Gully

Zone G

Holmwood vs Spalding

Christiana vs Alston

Zone H

Thompson Town vs Claude McKay

Clarendon College vs Edwin Allen

Zone I

Steer Town vs Cedric Titus

York Castle vs Marcus Garvey

Zone J

Islington vs St Mary Technical

Oracabessa vs St Mary High

Zone K

Dinthill Technical vs Bog Walk

Ewarton vs Charlemont

Zone L

Port Antonio vs Titchfield

Fair Prospect vs Happy Grove

Zone M

Denbigh High vs Glenmuir High

Porus vs Garvey Maceo

Zone N

Central vs Vere

Tacius Golding vs Foga Road

Kemps Hill vs Old Harbour

Zone O

Seaforth vs Paul Bogle