NEWPORT-Perhaps one of the toughest weeks, if not the toughest, in the history of The Newport Plain Talk Football Contest. Week 3 saw only nine contestants finish 7-3 or higher, and, for the second week in a row, it came down to a tiebreaker.

Keith Holcomb, Mike Benson and Herb Thomas all finished at 8-2 for Week 3, which sent us to the Tennessee-UCLA game for the tiebreaker. Holcomb and Benson both picked UCLA, but Thomas was ousted after picking Tennessee. UCLA won it 19-15 (that's all we'll say about it) for 34 total points. Holcomb edged Benson by two points to get the victory.

As our Week 3 winner, Keith will get a $10 gift certificate from Pizza Plus, located at 733 Cosby Highway in Newport, and one free movie rental compliments of Movie Time Video, located at 150 East Broadway in Newport.

It was truly a nasty week. Very few picked UCLA over Tennessee, and most of our contestants picked Notre Dame over Michigan, which was won by the Wolverines 38-34. LSU downed Vanderbilt 23-9, Southern California held off Ohio State 18-15 and Auburn rolled over Mississippi State 49-24. The tough part came on the high school games. The majority picked Greeneville over Elizabethton, which was won by undefeated Betsy 10-0, Morristown East over Cleveland, won by Cleveland 56-42, and undefeated Gibbs over Grace Christian, won by Grace 28-21. Cosby fell to Pigeon Forge 27-18 while Cocke County fell to David Crockett 21-0.

Once again, finishing at 8-2 were Keith Holcomb, Mike Benson and Herb Thomas.

Finishing at 7-3 this past week were Adam Lovell, Julie Souder, Billy Roberts, Mitch Coakley, Rachel Allen and Jimmy Don Jones.

Finishing at 6-4 this past week were Kevin Halcomb, Jordan Strange, David Williamson, Clinton Provencal, Craig Wild, Ginger Ann Hartsell, John Jenkins, Charles Henderson, Tommy V. Lillard, Jr., Diana Grooms, Caleb Whaley, Tracy Williams, David Kickliter, Justin Kickliter, A.C. Willis, Hank Douglas, Sr., Dione Kyker, Eric R. Baxter, Cheyenne Kelley, John David Bible, Dana Bible, Morgan Hall, Robert Amick, Rickie Jones, Terry Quinton, Regina Lindsey, Ronnie Leatherwood and Karen Fraley.

Finishing at 5-5 this past week were Tim Edwards, Matt Reid, Betty McAndrew, Ronnie D. McGaha, Jackson Presnell, Ken Hall, Brian Holt, LuAnn Meadows, Barbara Toby, Chris Gregg, Derrick Webb, Kyal Clevenger, James Roth, Marty Coakley, Robert Gray, David Shelton, Billy Massengill, Cody Lowe, Jody Lowe, Jewell Ottinger, Kenny Cody, Justin Shelton, Frank Bible, Clint Ramsey, Evelyn B. Webb, Mark Sandburg, Cody Hembree, Auston Ford, John Baines, Mike Butler, Matt Whaley, Eugene Brown and Walter Cole.

And, finishing at 4-6 this past week were Jason Martin, D.K. Elliott, Beverly Coakley, Angie Wills, Darrin Costner, Herbie Keller, Angie Templin, Bill Templin and Lisa Burke.

Keep on playing the contest week after week. You never know what may happen during the season, just like this past week, and overall records will be up-and-down week after week.

Our overall winner at the end of the season will be presented the Grand Prize, one cinema party for the winner and 19 friends or family members from Newport Cinema 4, located at 424 Heritage Blvd. in Newport. This includes a movie complete with popcorn and drinks for the 20 attendees.

The runner-up at the end of the season will receive a portable DVD player from Movie Time Video, located at 150 East Broadway in Newport.

The third-place finisher will receive a $50 gift certificate from Poe's Sport Center, located at 160 Highway 25-E in Newport.

The fourth-place finisher will win a $50 gift certificate Dazzler's Diamond Showroom, located at 503 Cosby Highway in Newport.

The fifth-place finisher will win one night's lodging at any Motel 6, in Newport, located at 225 Heritage Blvd.

And, the sixth-place finisher will get a quick lube, oil and filter courtesy of Stinnett's, located at 1041 West Highway 25/70 in Newport.

We also have some great prizes for our weekly winners, including a $10 gift certificate from Pizza Plus, located at 733 Cosby Highway in Newport, and one free movie rental compliments of Movie Time Video, located at 150 East Broadway in Newport.

We would also like to thank our many other sponsors who help make The Newport Plain Talk Football Contest possible, including Chris Robinson at Glass, Paint & Body Shop, located at 147 Main Street in Newport, Beverly & Freddie Myers at East Tennessee Coffee Company Brockwell Construction, Co., Inc., located at 980 Thinwood Drive in Newport, Pharmacists Marty Bailey and Jonathan Styles at Town & Country Drugs, located at 771 Cosby Highway in Newport, Dixie Pawn Shop, located at 747 Cosby Highway in Newport, U.S. Title Loans, located at 658 Cosby Highway in Newport, Stinnett Heating & Air, LLC., located at 642 Rankin Road in Newport, Baptist Hospital & Convalescent Center of Cocke County, part of Mercy Health Partners, located at 435 Second Street in Newport and 450 Second Street in Newport, Ben's Home Center, located at 950 West Highway 25/70 in Newport, Cars East, located at 4055 East Morris Blvd. in Morristown and Blue Ridge Veterinary Services, P.C., located at 1599 Highway 160 in Bybee.

Week 4's Football Contest is located on Page 11 today. On the contest entry form, found in the middle of the page, simply chose which team you think will win, what you think the final score will be, which will be used for tie breakers, and from what sponsor's ad you found the match-up in.

Once you've completed the entry form, simply clip it out, and drop it by The Plain Talk, or mail it to The Newport Plain Talk, Football Contest, 145 East Broadway, Newport, TN. 37821. Please make sure you include your address and telephone number so we can get in touch with you if you are our winner.

In addition, we'll have the complete results for you every Tuesday in The Plain Talk's Sports section. It will include our weekly winners. On Thursdays or Sundays, we'll have the weekly standings for you.

There are come great games for you coming up this weekend on both the college and high school levels.

On the high school level, Cosby is at home to Hancock County. Both teams are hungry for their first victory and it's homecoming for Cosby. Also this week, Cocke County is at home to Sevier County while Seymour Travels to Jefferson County, South Greene at Greeneville and Grainger at home to Chuckey-Doak.

On the college level, Tennessee is at Florida (oh boy!), Utah plays at Oregon, Oregon State is at home to Cincinnati, Southern California at Washington and Texas Tech at Texas.