For much of the sixth annual Carder Motors Playoff Payoff Football Pick’em competition, Bridgeport’s Kevin Carbacio – a former champion – dominated. At one time, he had nearly a 30-game lead over the competition.

 

As it turned out, once the record field of hundreds of individuals in the contest all had their two worst weeks of picks removed, things did get a little tighter. But not tight enough to change the final regular season results.

 

Carbacio ended up winning the overall title with 359-60 record (85.68 percent) to land his choice of the three prize packages available this year. His effort held off defending champion Jason Hartman who finished the year at 348-84 (80.56 percent).  Although Hartman closed the gap, he was still 11 games behind Carbacio.

As for third place, one of the contest’s regular pickers – and most well-known – will walk away with a prize this year. Former Bridgeport educator Bill Montgomery earned the spot with a 323-94 (77.46 mark). Montgomery finished the regular season tied with Adam Holbert and Jimmy Stutler who finished fourth and fifth, respectively, when their two worst weeks were dropped.

 

All three individuals need to email Hannah Edwards at hannah@connect-bridgeport.com and list the prizes in the order they would like. Carbacio will receive first choice, while Hartman will receive the top choice of his after Carbacio and Montgomery will receive the remaining prize.

 

The prize packages are all but complete. The packages include a $500 gift certificate from the Meadowbrook Mall. Another prize includes a prize package courtesy of The Fly Rod Chronicles and Connect-Bridgeport that features a Yeti tumbler, a Fly Rods Chronicle t-shirt, an Echo (2nd Generation) with improved sound powered by Dolby (with a silver finish), a $25 Buffalo Wild Wings Gift Card and a certificate for an Almost Heaven Desserts Small Cheesecake. The final prize is a gift card set that includes $100 in Buffalo Wild Wings Gift Cards, a certificate for a small cheesecake from Almost Heaven Desserts, a Mia Margherita Gift Card and a gift card for an ice cream cake from the Main Street Dairy Queen. Individuals will have the chance to choose their prize after the winners are announced, followed by the runner-up.

 

Holbert finishes the contest at 339-100 (77.22 percent), while Stutler was behind at 321-96 (76.98 percent). Rounding out the top 10 were Aaron Mann (330-102 – 76.39 percent) at No. 6, Andrew Banko (325-103, 75.93 percent) at No. 7, Mark Trippett (324-105 – 75.52 percent) at No. 8, Nancy Romano (317-103 – 75.48 percent) in ninth and Ryan Chandler (325-106 – 75.41 percent) at the tenth spot.

 

At No. 11, Jason McCall posted a 330-109 (75.17 percent) mark, while two-time champion Hugh Gainer is at the No. 12 spot with a record of 316-105 (75.06 percent). At No. 13 is John Hart thanks to a showing of 312-104 (75 percent), followed by Jeff Muller at No. 14 with a record of 329-110 (74.94 percent) and Dustin Vincent at No. 15 who ended the year at 321-108 (74.83 percent).

 

The next batch that are part of the top 25 include Patsy Sabatelli at No. 16 thanks to going 317-107 (74.76  percent) on the year. He is followed by Chris Oliverio at No. 17 with a 321-109 (74.65 percent) effort, Michael Mann at No. 18 who ended things at 319-109 (74.53 percent), Clayce Spurlock at the No. 19 position with a year-end total of 319-110 (74.36 percent), and Chris Byrd rounding things out in the 20 spot with a mark of 318-110 (74.30 percent).

 

Kelly Ayoob is in at No. 21 after finishing the sixth season at 320-111 (74.25 percent). Kelly was followed by Eric Allen with a record of 318-111 (74.13 percent), Mike Alastanos at No. 23 thanks to a showing of 326-114 (74.09 percent), John Pulice coming in at No. 24 with a record of 320-112 (74.07 percent), and finally Matt Ash. Ash rounds out this year’s top 25 with a mark of 308-108 (74.04 percent).

 

Connect-Bridgeport would like to thank our participants and our sponsor – Carder Motors – for allowing us to continue this popular event. We would also like to thank our weekly prize providers Buffalo Wild Wings and Almost Heaven Desserts as well as those who contributed to the grand prizes listed above.