Four months after it began, the fifth annual Carder Motors Playoff Payoff Football Pick’em contest is officially complete. Earlier this week, the record field of nearly 250 individuals that participated this year had their two worst weeks of picks eliminated to produce the top three winners of more than $1,000 in prizes for the year.

 

As it turned out, unlike year’s past, the top three finishers in the regular season remained the same as the top three once the worst weeks were dropped. It should be noted that, as in the past, the winner didn’t necessarily have the most wins, but the highest winning percentage when their worst two weeks of picks were eliminated.

 

The overall winner was Jason Hartman. Hartman finished with a mark of 346-85 (80.28 percent) and finished in the No. 1 spot, where he was for almost the entire second half of the regular season of picks.

 

In second place was former overall winner and Bridgeport resident Kevin Carbacio. With his two worst weeks eliminated, Carbacio finished with a 350-93 mark (79.01 percent).

 

Third place this year goes to Tamie Arbogast. Arbogast finished with a mark of 341-105 (76.46 percent) on the year after her two worst weeks were removed from 18 weeks of picks.

 

Those three individuals qualify for the prizes. As the overall winner, Hartman has his choice of the prize that he wants. Carbacio then will get to make his choice of the two remaining prizes, while Arbogast will then get the remaining prize.

 

The prizes include a $500 gift certificate from the Meadowbrook Mall and a golf package trip. The mall prize is good for the stores located at Bridgeport's retail hub.

 

This year, the golf prize is a mid-week package at Oglebay Resort & Conference Center in Wheeling that features one (1) night’s lodging in the newly renovated West Family Wing of Wilson Lodge for up to two people sharing the same room, a breakfast buffet for two, 18 holes of golf with cart on the Robert Trent Jones Course for each and 18 holes of golf with cart on the Arnold Palmer Course for each. To add a local flavor to it, a $25 Buffalo Wild Wings Gift Card and a gift certificate for a free small cheesecake at Almost Heaven Desserts is included.

 

The third option includes a group of gift cards. Among the prizes in the final option are a $75 Mia Margherita gift card, a $25 Meagher’s Irish Pub gift card, a $125 gift card for the new TGI Fridays, and a certificate for a free 8” Dairy Queen Cake.

 

The winners need to contact Hannah Edwards via email to state your preferences in order. She can be reached via email at hannah@connect-bridgeport.com. She will get back to you early this coming week.

 

As for the rest of the top 25, Gary Griffith finished fourth at 342-112 (75.33), while Andrew Banko and Jamie Guy both were tied for the No. 5 spot at 344-113 (75.27 percent). In seventh place was Ron Sandreth at 333-110 (75.17 percent), while the eighth position was held by Michael Mann at 336-111 (75.11 percent). Aaron Mann was next in ninth place with a record of 341-116 (74.62 percent), while Mike Alastanos rounded out the top 10 with a mark of 322-110 (74.54 percent)

 

At No. 11, Brian Reider earned the nod with a mark of 332-114 (74.44 percent), while Adam Holbert was right on his heels at No. 12 with a record of 331-114 (74.38 percent). Gilbert Kelley comes in at No. 13 at 336-118 (74.01 percent) and Mark Trippett is next at No. 14 with a showing of 330-116 (73.99 percent). Rounding out the top 15 is Bill Montgomery at 338-119 (73.96 percent).

 

In the No. 16 position, Brent Kimble held things down thanks to a showing of 327-116 (73.81 percent). Matt Ash was next at No. 17 with a mark of 332-119 (73.61 percent), while Steven Hastings comes in at No. 18 with a record of 326-117 (73.59 percent). At No. 19 is Frank Blake thanks to be successful to the tune of 328-118 (73.54 percent). Rounding out the top 20 is two-time winner Hugh Gainer with a mark of 336-121 (73.52 percent).

 

Leading off the final five in the top 25 is a two-way tie for the No. 21 position. Mike Nicewarner and Henry McDaniel both come in a 333-121 (73.35 percent), while David Gillot is in at No. 23 thanks to a mark of 327-119 (73.32 percent). Dwight Bullough finished in the 24^th spot thanks to picking at 335-122 (73.30 percent), while Patrick Coberly closes the top 25 with a mark of 324-119 (73.14 percent).

 

Connect-Bridgeport would like to thank all of this year’s participants. Also a thank you to our sponsor for the second straight year – Carder Motors – and our weekly prize sponsors Buffalo Wild Wings and Almost Heaven Desserts.