LUCEA, Hanover — Former champions Rusea’s High will kick off their campaign in the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) daCosta Cup this afternoon when they host Merlene Ottey High in a Zone B game at the Collin Miller Sports Complex in Lucea. Start time is scheduled for 3:30 pm.

After failing to qualify for the second round last season and losing their second-round games in the previous two seasons, Rusea’s High will hope to make amends this year and should start with a win against opponents they have dominated over the years.

Five games are scheduled to be played today. Hopewell High returns after a two-year lay off to face Green Island High at Orchard, also in Zone B.

In Zone F, Bellefield High host Belair, St St Joseph Catholic entertain powerhouses Manchester High, and May Day face deCarteret College.

At the Collin Miller Sports Complex Rusea’s, who won one of their six games last season — one of their worst in recent memory — will be seeking to reclaim pride of place among the elites.

In their last four meetings from the 2017 to 2018 seasons Rusea’s High won all four by an aggregate scoreline of 26-1, and today’s margin could again be lopsided.

Mt St Joseph Catholic lost all five games they played last season, their first in any level of organised football, and they will have a difficult game against one of the traditional powerhouse schools in central Jamaica.

In five games last season they conceded 36 goals, though it was not the worst. Claude McKay High allowed 43 and Alston High let in 38 goals, and unless they have used the time between the seasons to improve drastically they could be in for another tough afternoon.

— Paul A Reid

TODAY’S GAMES

Zone B

Hopewell High vs Green Island @ Orchard

Rusea’s High vs Merlene Ottey @ Collin Miller Sports Complex

Zone F

Bellefield High vs Belair High @ Bellefield High

Mt St Joseph Catholic vs Manchester @ Mt St Joseph

May Day vs deCarteret College @ May Day

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

Zone N

Garvey Maceo 2, Kemps Hill 2

Zone D

Black River 1, Godfrey Stewart 1

Grange Hill 1, Manning’s 5

Belmont Academy 0, Petersfield 3

Zone E

Lacovia High 0, BB Coke High 0

Maggotty High 1, Munro College 1

Sydney Pagon STEM 0, STETHS 4

Zone J

Horace Clarke High 2, Wycliffe Martin High 2

St Mary Tech 2, Annotto Bay 0

Tacky High 4, St Mary High 0

Zone K

Enid Bennett 1, Charlemont High 3

Ewarton 1, Dinthill Technical 3

Guy’s Hill 0, McGrath 1

Zone L

Robert Lightbourne 1, Paul Bogle High 3

Morant Bay 2, St Thomas Technical 0

Seaforth 2, Yallahs 0