For the third straight week, Bridgeport’s Kevin Carbacio has found himself in the number one position in the Carder Motors Playoff Payoff Pick’em contest. And for the second straight week, the only thing he didn’t win was the draw for the top weekly prize.

 

This week, Carbacio was joined at the top of the weekly standings by Jason Hartman. Carbacio, a former champion, and Hartman the defending champion, both finished the week at 27-4. However, it was Hartman who won the blind draw for the overall weekly prize.

 

Hartman has his choice of a gift card from Buffalo Wild Wings or a certificate for a small cheesecake from Almost Heaven Desserts on Main Street. He will need to send his address and other contact information to Hannah Edwards at hannah@connect-bridgeport.com to choose his prize.

 

Carbacio will also need to submit his information to Edwards as well. He will receive the prize not taken by Hartman.

 

Nine individuals were nipping on the top duo’s heels this week. The group of Larry Snider, Mark Trippett, Kelly Ayoob, Aaron Glines, Stephen Kelley, Aaron Mann, Janet Hathaway, Clayce Spurlock, and Chris Johnson all finished the week at 26-5 and even at No. 3.

 

There were 12 individuals tied at No. 12. The group of Derrick Bramer, Eric Stoneking, Patsy Sabatelli, Brian Martin, Gilbert Kelley, Chris Skidmore, Lenora Montgomery, Chris Nutter, Curt Burner, Mike Nicewarner, Delbert Leatherman, and Jay Garrett all came in on the week at 24-7.

 

Perhaps the biggest tie ever rounded out the top 25 as 49 pickers finished in the No. 24 spot this week. Nancy Romano, Chad Reppert, Amber Gaines, Frank Blake, Ryan  Riley,  Matt  Duez, Hugh Gainer, Ben Queen, Andrew Banko, Gary Griffith, Jason Dodd, Eric  Allen, Jeff Wright, Matt Ash, Brent Kimble, Jared Cleghorn, John Minnocci, Jimmy Stutler, Dustin Vincent, Scott Nicewarner, Bill Montgomery, Stephen Cromwell, Louis Aragona, Henry McDaniel, Richard Houck,,  Jeff Wright, Aaron Williams, Mike Ridgway,, Paul Burnett, John Pulice, Scott Price,  Joe Spatafore, Joe Meluzio, Jerry Joliff, Mike Alastanos, Jayson Nicewarner, Chris Oliverio, Patrick Coberly, John Oldaker, Adam Holbert, Harold Tate, Pat Boyles, Danny Hamrick, Jeff Muller, Frank Cherubino, Tommy Stewart, Justin Richter, Chris Dolan, and Craig Trippett all finished 23-8.

 

Thanks to three straight strong weeks, Kevin Carbacio’s lead has ballooned to double digits. Carbacio has an impressive 124-19 (86.71 percent) mark through the early weeks of the competition. Mark Trippett is his closest competitor as he is in second place at 113-30 (79.02 percent).

 

There is a three way tie for third. The group of Frank Blake, Jason McCall and Clayce Spurlock are all at 112-31 (78.32 percent).

 

In sixth place, Jason Hartman stands alone with a 111-32 (77.62 Percent) record. Three individuals are even at No. 11 as Adam Holbert, Bill Montgomery and Jimmy Stutler all come in a 110-33 (76.92 percent).

 

A four-way ties rounds out the top 10. Steven Hastings, Ryan Chandler, Nancy Romano and Brian Martin all come in at 109-34 (76.22 percent) and stand at the No. 10 position.

 

The first of two top 25 logjams comes at No. 14. Gilbert Kelley,  Chris Johnson, Aaron Mann, Patsy Sabatelli, Jeff Muller, Dustin Vincent, and Rob Stallman are all even with 108-35 (75.25 percent) marks.

 

 

Eight individuals round out the top 25 tied in the No. 21 position. Delbert Leatherman, Tyrone Lockett, Hugh Gainer, Chuck  Miller, John Pulice, Chris Oliverio, Janet Hathaway and Chris Byrd are all knotted up at 107-36 (74.38 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.