LUCEA, Hanover — Vassell Reynolds, who led Rusea’s High School to their 11th hold on the ISSA/FLOW daCosta Cup title, their first since back-to-back wins in 2010 and 2011 and his first non knockout title, has urged his players and students to play their part in the fight against crime in western Jamaica.

At Monday’s celebration of their come-from-behind 2-1 win over Clarendon College at the school’s main campus in Lucea, Hanover, Reynolds, who danced to music during his short presentation, urged the students “to use your influence to try to stop the spread of crime and violence here in western Jamaica, play your part in stemming the crime”.

A number of the Rusea’s High players are from inner-city areas of Montego Bay, including Glendevon and Salt Spring, where a number of killings have taken place.

Yesterday, the entire school family, led by members of the board and the administration, was out in huge numbers for the celebrations that were backed up by the school’s music department.

Students Dontae Gordon and Ramone Watson led the singing ably accompanied by musicians.

Members of the team were paraded and feted and, along with the coaching staff, presented with their medals and signed a football to commemorate the achievement.

Principal Linvern Wright told the student body to learn from the players, describing their achievement as “remarkable”.

Wright said the members of the team were “teachers”, going on to explain, “During this season they taught us many things. They trailed in both the semi-finals and the final, but that was when they turned it up, they taught us determination and that when we are down that is the time to start working hard.”

Reynolds used the lyrics of three songs to illustrate his points, the gospel song Can’t even walk, a version of the Wishing you a Merry Christmas and reggae superstar Chronixx’s Likes, praised his players for their “hard work and determination”, saying “these are the two pillars that will ensure success in life” and urged the student body to use this success on the field to “strive for academic and behavioural success”.

Glenroy Clarke, the chairman of the school board, who chaired the proceedings, thanked Wright and Reynolds for their “foresight and vision” that led to the success on the football field.