Well, might as well just say it up front: there is only one week left in the football contest.

The season-long winner will be crowned next Wednesday. Perhaps not crowned, but he or she will be $200 richer.

And as if the contestants know the end is near, this past week provided probably the best overall entries the season has seen. Many people went 13-3, and a few more went 14-2.

But then there were the three that coasted their way to 15-1 marks, just one pick short of being perfect. Rest assured, the 1972 Miami Dolphins are resting easier and breaking out the champagne.

The three that flirted with perfection? Patty Camp of Southern Pines, Reuben Davis of Carthage and Dick Maag of Pinehurst.

So, as usual, the tiebreaker game became all important. That game had Denver beating San Diego (Sorry, Mr. Rivers) by a 30-23 score for a total of 53 points.

Maag gets the third-place check for $20 because his tiebreaker number was 48, while Davis and Camp had 57 for their numbers. A scant one point relegated Maag to third, but he can still brag a bit about his 15-1 mark.

Now, about Camp and Davis. The next tiebreaker in place, as always, is the trusty pick one out of a hat. When that was done, the winner of the $50 first-place money was Camp, leaving Davis to collect the second-place check for $30.

As mentioned, Sunday’s entry is the final one of the season, so let’s name a few of the people that are in serious contention for the $200.

Jody Britt, David Weaver and Jamie Tindall all are cruising along with 121-55 records.

Stephanie Flores is riding along with a 120-56 mark.

Overall Standings

121-55 — Jody Britt, Jamie Tindall, David Weaver

120-56 — Stephanie Flores

119-57 — Kayla Britt, Arlene Paz

118-58 — Noah Lyons

117-59 — Amanda Latham, Brian Norris, Craig Reaser, Michael Weaver

116-60 — Michael Covington

115-61 — Jeremy Britt, Daniel Burns, Brian Gray II, Zane Grey, Seth Norris, Annie Norris, John Robbins, Ralph Tindall

114-62 — Kathy Latham, Kathryn Sabata

113-63 — Dorothy Brown, Reuben Davis, Tony Grausso, Lee Maurath, Tony Paz, Brad Robbins, Tom Rock, John Weaver

112-64 — Chase Blake, Robin Glover Gonzalez, Aidan Lyons, Dick Maag, Johnny Ward

111-65 — David McKinnon, Bill Norris, Bob Suggs, Ray White

110-66 — Glenn “Gator” Boerner, Haynes Brigman, Bruce sCaddell, Taylor Grey, Alan Terry, Pat Van Hulle, Pam Wase

109-67 — Dal Butler, David Hale, Chuck Latham, Dorothy Maag

108-68 — Eric Kopecky

107-69 — Michael Ed Brown, Patty Camp, Jonathan Luck, Barry Miller, Kevin Miller, Jim Pies

107-53 — Greg and Bryce Davis

106-70 — Dick Kolke, Matt Robbins, Rich Tompkins, Karen Weaver

106-62 — Gary Deese

105-71 — Sandra Blake, Glenn Camp

104-72 — Velma Davis

103-73 — Lori Houghtaling, Bob Hennessey, Holly Hill, Randy McNeill

103-57 — George Erickson, Dale Kellis

102-74 — Marlene Houghtaling, Stan Whitaker

102-64 — Woody Burnell

102-58 — Steve Lassiter

101-59 — Beau Davis, Ralph Oldham

100-76 — Cristina Adams, Jessika Harmon

100-62 — Donathan Hundley Jr.

99-61 — Rich Wingfield

97-79 — Cecil Brewer

97-63 — Steve Coney, James Courdway

95-65 — Cecil Blake

92-68 — Jordan Blake