NEWPORT-It came down to total points in Week 9 of The Newport Plain Talk Football Contest. Nine contestants ran the table this past week with perfect 10-0 records. That sent each of them into the tie-breaker, which was total points of the Tennessee-Alabama game on Saturday, which was 22.

After tabulations, John Jenkins was closest with 34, followed by Betty McAndrew (38), Robert Gray (41), Jewell Ottinger (41), Regina Lindsey (48), Jason Martin (51), Jordan Strange (56), Charles Henderson (63) and Keith Holcomb (74). What a finish!

As our Week 9 winner, John 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 quite a week both on the high School and college levels this past week. In high school action, Cosby and Cumberland Gap went back-and-forth through three quarters, but the Panthers put the Eagles away in the final frame for the 48-25 victory, ending the Eagles four-game winning streak. Morristown West was way too much for Cocke County, winning 49-0, while Clinton nipped Oak Ridge 16-14. Gatlinburg-Pittman held on to beat Knox Carter 7-0 while Knox Grace (Christian) edged Johnson County 13-12. On the college level, what Vol fans wouldn't give for a field goal as Alabama got lucky with a 12-10 victory. TCU rolled past BYU 38-7 while Penn State cruised past Michigan in the Big House 35-10. Mississippi whipped Arkansas 30-17. And LSU handled Auburn 31-10.

Finishing at 10-0 this past week were John Jenkins, Betty McAndrew, Robert Gray, Jewell Ottinger, Regina Lindsey, Jason Martin, Jordan Strange, Charles Henderson and Keith Holcomb.

Finishing at 9-1 this past week were Matt Reid, Austin Ford, Derrick Webb, A.C. Willis, David Kickliter, Tommy V. Lillard, Jr., Clinton Provencal, Frank Bible and Justin Kickliter.

Finishing at 8-2 this past week were Ronnie D. McGaha, Ken Hall, Ronnie Leatherwood, Kevin Halcomb, Kyal Clevenger, Ginger Ann Hartsell, Debra Goode, Rachel Allen, Cody Hembree, Mitch Coakley, Cheyenne Kelley, Clint Ramsey, John David Bible, Darrin Costner, Beverly Coakley, Dana Bible and Walter Cole.

Finishing at 7-3 this past week were Billy Massengill, Herb Thomas, Tim Edwards, Jackson Presnell, Rochelle Kyker, Sherry Cole, Rickie Jones, Adam Lovell, Craig Wild, LuAnn Meadows, James Roth, Billy Roberts, Caleb Whaley, Terry Quinton, Cody Lowe, Barbara Toby, Robert Amick and Diana Grooms.

Finishing at 6-4 this past week were Tracy Williams, Eric R. Baxter, Herbie Keller, Bill Templin, Jody Lowe, Morgan Hall, Evelyn Webb, Angela Templin, Mark L. Sandburg, Hank Douglas, Sr. and David Shelton.

Finishing at 5-5 this past week were Eugene W. Brown, Karen Fraley, D.K. Elliott, Jimmy Don Jones, Ronald McCarter, Julie Souder, Dione Kyker, Angie Wills and Justin Shelton.

Finishing at 4-6 this past week was Randall Robinson.

Finishing at 3-7 this past week was Ken Cody.

That sets us up for the final week of the contest this week. It's tight atop the overall standings. Should we have a tie atop the standings, the tie-breaker will be total points in all Tennessee games through this Saturday against South Carolina.

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 10's Football Contest, the final contest and your last chance, is located in today's paper. On the contest entry form, found in the middle of the page, simply choose which team you think will win, what you think the final score will be, which will be used for tiebreakers, 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 weekly standings for you this Thursday and Sunday in The Plain Talk's Sports section.

There are some interesting match-ups for you coming up this weekend on both the college and high school levels. Cosby does not appear in this week's contest because they play on Thursday night.

On the high school level, Cherokee visits Cocke County while Bearden travels to Knox Catholic. Clay County is at home to Oliver Springs while Rockwood plays at Harriman. And, Knox Gibbs is on the road at Austin-East. On the college level, Steve Spurrier and his South Carolina Gamecocks come to Rocky Top, while Texas travels to Stillwater to play Oklahoma State in a huge Big 12 get-together. Southern California is on the road at Oregon in a key Pac 10 match-up, while another key Big 12 battle has Kansas at Texas Tech. And, Mississippi State will play at Kentucky. Good luck!