WITH the disjointed and prolonged ISSA schoolboy football campaign ending just before Christmas, there is a different kind of celebration coming in the Yuletide season.

Fittingly, in a season disrupted by heavy rains, urban area winners Excelsior High and rural champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) ended their respective title droughts.

STETHS turned in a most defiant display, playing with 10 men to defeat Glenmuir High 8-7 on penalties after battling to a 0-0 result in normal time.

It was an appropriate outcome for a school devastated by Hurricane Melissa in late October. And that $500,000 winning prize should go some way in its rebuilding and recovery efforts.

STETHS, who were winning their sixth daCosta Cup title, had Trinidad and Tobago’s Kaieem Lewis to thank as he emerged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and shared the Golden Boot award with Carlondo Morris of Cornwall College. Both scored 12 goals at the business end of the season.

Terron Eccleston of Cedric Titus High was the overall leading goalscorer, with 29 in the daCosta Cup, while Sean Leighton of Mona High led the Manning Cup with 23 strikes.

STETHS won the Most Defensive team award, conceding only five goals, while Cornwall College was the Most Attacking Team with 32 goals.

Kimarly Scott, who led Excelsior High to the Manning Cup crown, was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the urban competition. He was joint Golden Boot winner on seven goals, alongside Santana Headley of Eltham High.

Manning Cup finalists Jamaica College won the awards for Most Attacking (20 goals) and Most Defensive (seven goals) team. Jamaica College’s only loss in an outstanding season came in the final.

St Catherine High won their third urban Walker Cup title and Dwight Gentes copped two awards — the MVP and Leading Goalscorer — with five goals in the competition.

In the rural Ben Francis Cup, Clarendon College, under new Coach Devon Anderson, won their fifth title. Devon Anderson had guided Hydel High to the 2018 Walker Cup. Nayar Anderson was the MVP of the Ben Francis Cup.

Kimarly Scott (right) of Excelsior High prepares to kick the ball under pressure from Jamal Williams of Tivoli Gardens High during the ISSA Manning Cup football match at Excelsior High on December 2, 2025.