For anyone that has ventured into the Bridgeport Civic Center the last several years, they probably have encountered Michelle Leonard. And for those that have gotten to know her from her week in the reception area – or already know her – they have figured out she’s a fan of football.

 

This past week, she proved she’s not just a fan. Leonard proved she’s also a knowledgeable fan as she won Week 14 of the Carder Motors Playoff Payoff Football Pick’em contest. Thanks for her showing, she needs to email Hannah Edwards at hannah@connect-bridgeport.com to provide contact information and her choice of prizes.

 

Leonard can choose a gift certificate from Buffalo Wild Wings or a small cheesecake from Almost Heaven Desserts. In order to earn the choice, Leonard needed a little bit of luck. And she got it as she won the blind draw to break a four-way tie for first place as she and three others went 26-5 on the week.

 

The other three finishing with the same record include Aaron Mann, Brian Martin and Jason Hartman. Mann finished as the second blind draw winner. The former Bridgeport High School athlete also needs to contact Edwards via email with contact information, including an address, to receive the prize not chosen by Leonard.

 

Two individuals finished tied for fifth place. Adam Holbert and Delbert Leatherman both went 25-6. After that two large groups round out the top 25.

 

Eight individuals finished the week 24-7. The group of Ryan Riley, Andrew Banko, Jimmy Stutler, Dustin Vincent, Jeff Toquinto, James Hayes II, Steve Alfred and Larry Snider all went 24-7 and tied for seventh place.

 

The biggest logjam comes in at No. 15 as 17 individuals round out the top 25 with the same mark for the week. John Hart, Jeremy Parker, Jeff Muller, John Pulice, Jeff Yoho, Danny Hamrick, Patsy Sabatelli, Joe Meluzio, Dave Stingo, Gilbert Kelley, Mitch Osbourn, Kevin Carbacio, Michael Mann, Mark Trippett, Robert Marra, Tyrone Lockett, and Chris Oliverio finished the week 23-8.

 

In the overall standings, Kevin Carbacio still maintains a very healthy advantage. He stands at 346-66 (83.98 percent), which is 22 games ahead of the runner-up and defending champion Jason Hartman in second place with a 324-66 (78.64 percent) record.

 

Adam Holbert is by himself in third place with a 317-88 (76.94 percent) record, while Aaron Mann is in fourth at 316-96 (76.7 percent). Jimmy Stutler and Bill Montgomery round out the top five tied for fifth as both have marks of 315-97 (76.46 percent).

 

In seventh place, Jason McCall is by himself with a showing of 314-98 (76.21 percent), while Mark Trippett and Andrew Bank are tied for eighth in the overall standings at 311-101 (75.49 percent). Rounding out the top 10 is a two way tie at No. 10 with Ryan Chandler and Jeff Muller both at 310-102 (75.42 percent).

 

The next two spots see three-way ties. At No. 12, the trio of Chris Oliverio, Patsy Sabatelli, and Dustin Vincent come in a 306-106 (74.27 percent). At No. 15, the threesome of Hugh Gainer, Frank Blake, and Clayce Spurlock are knotted up with marks of 305-107 (74.03 percent).

 

At No. 18, Mike Alastanos and Chris Byrd are tied thanks to picking at 304-108 (73.79 percent) through 14 weeks. John Pulice rounds out the top 20 with a record of 303-109 (73.54 percent). At No. 21 James Hayes II and Kelly Ayoob share the position thanks to going 302-110 (73.3 percent), while there is also a two-way tie at No. 23 with Eric Allen and Scott Price even at 301-111 (73.06 percent).

 

The biggest tie rounds out the top 25 at No. 25 as seven individuals all have identical records. The group of Pete Curry, Chris Johnson, Michael Ferrari, Michael Mann, Gary Griffith, Steven Hastings and Nancy Romano all come in at 300-112 (72.82 percent).

 

Those individuals are currently the frontrunners for the grand prizes. The prize packages are still being put together for the year. However, one of the top prizes include a $500 gift certificate from the Meadowbrook Mall. The top three pickers will be awarded prizes at the end of the contest, which goes well into December. The overall winner has their choice of the three prizes, while the second place winner will have their choice then of the final two remaining prizes.

 

For those thinking the contest is over because they’ve had a couple of bad weeks, don’t fret. What makes the Carder Motors Playoff Payoff competition unique is that once the contest is over you don’t necessarily know who the winner is even though you will see your weekly overall ranking and Connect-Bridgeport will post the weekly and overall top 25 throughout the contest. At the end of the year, everyone that competes has their two worst weeks dropped and then the winner is announced based on the highest winning percentage.

 

While it would be impossible to win the overall prizes if you’ve not entered, you can still compete and win the weekly prizes. And it’s easy to do.

 

If you are a registered member of Connect-Bridgeport's Web site, all you have to do is make sure you're signed in and the click the Playoff Payoff icon on the home page that can be found by scrolling down to the left. If you're not registered, go to the top of the home page and register. It takes less than a minute.

 

Another unique aspect of the competition is that you can make changes to your picks leading up to games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Individuals can make their picks for Friday’s games and can change them until 6 p.m. Friday. Games that are listed on Saturday and Sunday can be entered and changed as many times as necessary until 11 a.m. each day of the picks.

 

Unfortunately, there are occasional schedule changes - usually on the prep football side - that staff does not catch; usually games moved to Thursday or a time change bumped up. There are also occasional mistakes with the proper teams playing each other. As has been the case in the past, each person will either be given a win for those games when there are schedule changes we miss or a mistake on our end or a or they will simply not be counted for the weekly and final standings.

 

You must use your actual name to compete. Nicknames or aliases will not be recognized for weekly or overall prizes.