The rush for places in the second round of the ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup football competition will heighten today as the preliminary stage winds down and with 37 games set to be played today. The results of more than three-quarters of the games are expected to have significant meaning.

Seventeen teams, led by three of last season’s semi-finalists — Clarendon College, Cornwall College and Frome Technical — have already booked their passages. But more than 25 teams are still in the hunt for the other 15 spots, including the best two third-place slots.

There is a possibility that not all of the 32 slots will be filled today but games are scheduled for Monday as well, and by that time the full slate should be known.

The schools that have already punched their tickets to the second round are Cornwall College and Anchovy High from Zone A; Frome Technical and Rusea’s High from Zone B; Mannings School from Zone D; St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) from Zone E; Manchester High and BB Coke from Zone F; Clarendon College and Lennon High from Zone H; Annotto Bay from Zone J; McGrath High from Zone K; Port Antonio High and Happy Grove from Zone L; Garvey Maceo and Denbigh High from Zone M; and Seaforth High from Zone O.

Of the schools which have qualified, five have secured zone honours — Frome, Mannings School, STETHS, McGrath High and Seaforth High.

Four schools are still in the hunt for both automatic spots from Zone C where three points separate the contenders.

After coming from behind to lead then giving up a late goal to earn a point from a 2-2 draw at Cedric Titus on Wednesday, leaders William Knibb Memorial need only a point at home against Spot Valley High to get into the second round, while a win would see them topping the zone.

William Knibb have the luxury of a game in hand and could still lose and then beat Herbert Morrison on Monday. But Spot Valley must win today or they are out, while Cedric Titus would put themselves in a strong position with a win at Holland High.

Today’s games

Zone A

Cornwall College vs Anchovy

Maldon High vs St James

Green Pond vs Irwin

Zone B

Merlene Ottey vs Green Island

Rusea’s vs Hopewell

Zone C

Holland vs Cedric Titus

William Knibb vs Spot Valley

Zone D

Mannings vs Godfrey Stewart

Belmont vs Grange Hill

Maud McLeod vs Petersfield

Zone E

Black River vs Sydney Pagon

Lacovia vs STETHS

Munro vs Maggotty

Zone F

May Day vs Belair

BB Coke vs Mile Gully

Manchester vs deCarteret

Zone G

Christiana vs Roger Clarke

Spalding vs Alston

Knox vs Holmwood

Zone H

Kellits vs Edwin Allen

Lennon vs Clarendon College

Zone I

Ocho Rios vs Marcus Garvey

York Castle vs Iona

Oracabessa vs Browns Town

Zone J

St Mary Technical vs Brimmervale

Tacky vs Annotto Bay

Zone K

Dinthill vs McGrath

Charlemont vs Enid Bennett

Zone L

Fair Prospect vs Titchfield

Port Antonio vs Happy Grove

Zone M

Garvey Maceo vs Bellefield

Glenmuir vs Denbigh

Zone N

Central vs Old Harbour

Vere vs Foga Road

Zone O

St Thomas Technical vs Yallahs

Morant Bay vs Seaforth

Robert Lightbourne vs Paul Bogle