For the second straight week, those taking part in the Blue Dot Services Playoff Payoff Football Pick’em contest found the sledding tough. This week, however, saw the biggest tie at the top of the weekly standings in the event’s three-year history.

 

Through a blank draw, the individual that won this week’s event is a prominent city businessman whose name you can find on Main Street. And now, you can find his name as part of the elite group of weekly winners.

 

Clarksburg’s Andrew Banko, who operates the Cava & Banko accounting firm on Main Street, was the lucky rabbit pulled from the hat. He finished with a 24-6 record and that mark was equaled by Michael Mann, Hugh Gainer, Julie Earl, Carol Hilton, Jacob Goldizen, Fred Spicer, and Paul Fulks.

 

Banko takes home the weekly prize. He walks away with a gift certificate from the Mountaineer Grille, which is situated just off Interstate 79 and below the Meadowbrook Mall as part of the Shops of Benny’s Place. Banko needs to contact Hannah Cantrell by emailing hannah@connect-bridgeport.com to claim the prize. Cantrell will get in touch with Banko no later than Monday of next week, but likely prior to that.

 

Another huge group of pickers were tied for the No. 9 spot. The group of Derrick Bramer, Kelsey Watkins, Jeff Wright, Patsy Sabatelli, Greg Scalise, Justin Stevens, Jordan Nuzum, Robert Marra, Scott Strosnider, and A.J. DeFazio all finished the week at 23-7.

 

Rounding out the top 25 were 14 prognosticators that were locked up in the No. 19 spot. The group of Scott Nicewarner, Jeff Toquinto, Dustin Vincent, Jamie Hamrick, David Gillot, Kevin Carbacio, Mark Gray, Justin Holstein, Carlos Davis, Scott Gainer, Adam Holbert, Patrick Coberly, Brian Randolph and John Pulice all finished at 22-8 for the week.

 

Once again, Bridgeport’s Louis Aragona maintained the overall lead. And once again, he finds himself in a battle. This time, however, there are even more individuals right on his heels. Aragona stands at 266-80 (76.88 percent), but has four individuals now one game behind and tied for second place.

 

Kevin Carbacio, who has long been breathing down Aragona’s neck in second, is joined by Michael Mann and two-time defending champion Hugh Gainer with 265-81 (76.59 percent) records.

 

In fifth place, John Pulice stands alone with a won-loss standing of 263-83 (76.01 percent), while Patsy Sabatelli and Chris Nutter are even at No. 6 thanks to identical marks of 261-85 (75.43 percent). David Gillot is all alone at No. 8 with a 359-87 (74.86 percent) record.

 

A two-way tie is in play at the No. 9 position in the overall standings. Bill Montgomery and A.J. DeFazio both are 258-88 (75.57 percent) through 12 weeks. A three-way tie at No. 11 includes Andrew Banko, Fred Spicer and Dan McNamee with 257-89 (74.28 percent) showings. Doug Marquette is by himself at No. 14 with a record of 256-90 (73.99 percent).

 

A three-way deadlock can be found at No. 15. The group of Tom Fogg, Danny Knight and Paul Fulks all come in at 251-91 (73.7 percent). Derrick Bramer is solo at No. 18 with a 254-92 (73.41 percent) record, while a four-way deadlock involving Jeff Muller, Casey King, Adam Holbert and Jason Dodd is in play at No. 19 as all of those individuals stand at 253-93 (73.12 percent).

 

In 23^rd place, Jeff Toquinto and Michael Cross are even at 252-94 (72.83 percent). And rounding out the top 25 is a three way tie for 25^th place with Mike Watkins, Michael Hustead and Greg Scalise all coming in a 251-95 (72.54 percent).

 

Anyone can still enter and be eligible for the weekly prizes. The grand prize winner will receive a $500 gift certificate to the Meadowbrook Mall. Second place is a weekend at the Stonewall Jackson Resort, while the third place winner has a prize package that consists of gift certificates to The Wonder Bar, Mia Margherita and more. Remember, those picking will have their worst two weeks of the contest eliminated to help determine the winner.

 

As for the contest itself, each week, a story will detail the weekly winners as well as the overall leaders for the prizes. This year, the weekly winner will receive a gift card to either Mountaineer World or Mountaineer Grille (depending on the week). In the event of a tie, the winner will be chosen by a blind draw by a staff member working at the Benedum Civic Center.

 

Unfortunately, there are occasional schedule changes - usually on the prep football side - that staff does not catch; usually games moved to Thursday. 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.