High school writer Jessica Bloch turned in a 17-3 effort last week to maintain an early three-game lead in the NEWS Football Forecast.

Defending staff champ Andrew Neff posted an 18-2 week and John Holyoke went 17-3 to creep within three games of the lead.

This week’s guest is James Raye, who is in the second year of a three-year term as the mayor of Rockland. Raye, 45, is a 1973 graduate of Rockland High School, where he was a four-year starter on the football team as a quarterback and defensive back.

Raye earned a football scholarship from San Diego State, but instead returned home to marry Julie, his high school sweetheart. He spent 16 years working in the insurance business and was the vice president and sales manager at Morse, Payson and Noyes Insurance.

Raye served five years on the Rockland City Council before earning the mayor’s seat. Julie Raye owns the House of Cards in Rockland.

The Rayes have two children, Nicole, a St. Joseph’s College graduate and Anthony, a senior at Rockland.

Last week’s guest, Matt Vogel of Old Town, had a solid 14-6 week, but defending champion Carrie Hart retains the guest lead after opening the season with a 16-4 mark.