DEFENDING champion Jamaica College (JC) will put their title on the line when they take on Charlie Smith High in the ISSA/LIME Manning Cup final set for the National Stadium at 4:00 pm.

JC, a 225-year-old institution rich in tradition, won the first Manning Cup title in 1909 and is the most successful school, with 25 titles since being formed in 1789 by one Charles Drax.

Some 186 years later, Jones Town Comprehensive was formed in 1975, before changing its name to Charlie Smith, and 13 years after, they won the first of their three Manning Cup titles in 1988. They had previously lost in the final in 1986, but have subsequently won in 1990 and 1995.

Today, regardless of what transpires, both teams will make history and as the German philosopher Karl Marx once said: “Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please.”

So these history-chasing boys will have to play their socks off in what is expected to be an exciting and intriguing final between two very good teams.

Interestingly, the match-up also pits the National Under-23 head coach Miguel Coley against Jerome Waite, the National Under-23 assistant coach. Both won’t be sharing national ideas for the better cause for Jamaica, but instead, will be trying to outfox each other for the greater glory of their respective schools.

Jerome won’t be ‘waiting’ any longer as he is anxious to build on the legacy he has created at the South St Andrew-based school after losing the 2011 final to St George’s College. Meanwhile, Charlie Smith are ready to upset the applecart, it seems.

“I am pretty much confident. We are up against the number one team in schoolboy football. So far, they have won the LIME Super Cup, they are in the final of the Walker Cup and this is their third final for the season,” Waite noted.

“It’s a good all-round team. But we are here to be the spoiler, so we are looking forward to the challenge,” he added.

Charlie Smith have scored 40 goals in the Manning Cup, while conceding just four times en route to the final and Waite believes his team has what it takes to beat JC.

“They say attackers win games; defenders win championships. Where we have our strength is in defence and that speaks volumes,” he argued.

That defence has been led admirably by co-captains and centre halves, the no-nonsense Odane Samuels and the calm and assured Lemmar Stewart. Goalkeeper Leon Taylor, Lennon Cameron and Anthony Thompson complete the sturdy backline.

The talented Bebeto McDonald, with nine goals, is their top scorer followed by Shamar Pryce with seven goals. Kimani Arbourne netted six times with defender Samuels and Chevon Brooks scoring five times. They, along with Keyshawn Williams and Norval Christie, are expected to provide the attacking thrust and the goals.

A confident Waite said he is expecting a tough, physical game from JC, who have some very good ball handlers.

The dark blue boys from Old Hope Road have dominated everything this season winning the rich all-island LIME Super Cup and are in the urban Walker Cup knockout final against St George’s College on Thursday.

They hunt their second crown in what could be an unprecedented four titles in one season and are heavily favoured to add the Manning Cup to the list.

JC have rattled in 54 goals and conceded four times, and in captain Junior Flemmings, they have in their ranks the most dangerous and effective player in schoolboy football.

The National Under-20 player has scored 20 times in all competition and more impressive are the number of assists he delivers using his intelligence, pace and skill and he will have to be contained if Charlie Smith hope to do well.

But the champions are far from being a one-man team because in Raffique Bryan (10 goals), Akean Shackleford (nine goals), Ronaldo Brown (eight goals), and Allando Brown (seven goals) they have a firepower second to none.

The likes of Donovan Segree, Donovan Dawkins, Sheldon McKoy, Chadwayne Johnson, Zeron Sewell and goalkeeper Courtney Dowdie form the core of the strongest school team this season.

JC are firm favourites to lift their fourth title in the last eight years and head coach Coley, who could not be reached for comment, knows the pressure is on to deliver.

Can Charlie Smith stop the JC juggernaut today? Only time will tell.

But one thing is for sure: it will be a humdinger of a game worth going miles to see.