As the 2017 edition of the Carder Motors Playoff Payoff Football pick’em competition nears an end, the final winners of the weekly prizes are just about in the books. And for the second time this year, the same name finds their way into the winner’s circle.

 

Nancy Romano, the week 2 winner, also turned out to be the week 16 winner. Romano went 19-2 on the week and has her choice of a gift certificate to Buffalo Wild Wings or a small cheesecake from Almost Heaven Desserts. Romano will need to send her address and contact information to Hannah Edwards at hannah@connect-bridgeport.com.

 

While Romano will have her choice, past champion Jason Hartman will also receive a prize. He will need to send him contact information to Edwards and he will be sent the prize not chosen by Romano.

 

While those two finished first and second, respectively, three this week were tied for third place. John Hart, Jimmy Coberly and Jared Cleghorn all went 17-4.  After that was an 11-way tie for sixth place as Chris Nutter, Bill Montgomery, Kelly Ayoob, Kevin Carbacio, Ryan Riley, Adam Heaster, Hugh Gainer, John Satterfield, Catchy Ruckman, Vernon Louk, and Adam Starkey all finished 16-5.

 

The biggest deadlock was at No. 17 as 16 members of the field this week were all even. JT Hilton, Michael Judy, Chris Dolan, Jeremy Parker, Aaron Williams, Theresa Roush, Scott Price, Chuck Cain, Mitch Osbourn, Delbert Leatherman, Patsy Sabatelli, Don Burton, Louis Aragona, Sharon Stutler, Jimmy Stutler, and Robert Marra completed week 16 at 15-6.

 

In the overall standings, Kevin Carbacio is still by himself with a 384-76 (83.48 percent) mark. Jason Hartman managed to pick up a little ground, but is still a distant second at 365-95 (79.35 percent). Adam Holbert is in third place at 352-108 (76.52 percent), Bill Montgomery is at No. 4 at 351-109 (76.3 percent), while Jimmy Stutler rounds out the top five at 350-110 (76.09 percent).

 

At No. 6 is Aaron Mann and his 348-112 (75.65 percent) record, while Andrew Banko is next at 345-115 (75 percent). The first tie in the top 25 comes in at No. 8 as Mark Trippett and Jeff Muller are both 343-117 (74.57 percent). Ryan Chandler rounds out the top 10 thanks to his showing of 342-118 (74.35 percent).

 

A four-way tie is found at No. 11 as Hugh Gainer, Dustin Vincent, Kelly Ayoob, and Chris Oliverio are all at 339-121 (73.7 percent). A second four-way tie comes in at No. 15 with Nancy Romano, Michael Mann, John Hart, and Clayce Spurlock are even at 338-122 (73.48 percent).

 

Scott Price and Frank Blake are tied at No. 19 with the same 337-123 (73.26 percent) record. At No. 21, Mike Alastanos and Chris Byrd come in a 336-124 (73.04 percent). Yet another tie at No. 23 sees Eric Allen and Brian Martin with an overall showing of 335-125 (72.83 percent). Rounding out the top 25 is Patsy Sabatelli at 334-126 (72.61 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.