As we reach the ninth and next-to-last week of the 32nd Football Forecast, the predicters take on a more anguished tone in their voices and start talking more to themselves than their co-workers.

And with a race as tight as the staff has going, it’s no wonder. But more on that later.

This week’s guest in Gerry Bourgoin, the branch manager of the Parker-Danner Co., a construction equipment company in Bangor.

He graduated in 1961 from Van Buren High School, where he played basketball and baseball.

After a stint in the army, Bourgoin went to Husson College, gaduating in 1971.

Gerry, now an avid golfer, and his wife Sandi live in Winterport.

Guest Rob St. Louis of Milford has the best record of all the predicters last week as he posted a 15-5 mark, one short of tying for the guest lead, held by two-time defending champion Kevin Hewes and Mike Aube.

Co-leaders John Holyoke and Pete Warner continued to set the pace for the staffers with 14-6 records.

For the season, they lead Dave Barber by two games and Deirdre Fleming and Andrew Neff by only three.