BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The West Liberty University football team has been honored with multiple Mountain East Conference Player of the Week selections for the second consecutive week.
The Hilltoppers' Andrew Faraimo was named MEC Defensive Player of the Week while Bryan Arbes collected the MEC Special Teams Player of the Week Award after the two standouts helped lead the Black and Gold to a 9-0 victory on Saturday afternoon at West Virginia State.
Faraimo, a 5-11, 205-pound sophomore safety from Torrance, Calif., keyed a stalwart performance by the West Liberty defense with 5 tackles – including 4 solo hits – along with a tackle-for-loss and quarterback sack as the Hilltoppers posted their first shutout in five years.
Arbes, a 5-6, 165-pound sophomore kicker from Monongahela, Pa., overcame driving rain and miserable field conditions to convert all three of his field goal attempts. Arbes' boots of 19, 29 and 30 yards accounted for all the scoring on the day.
Glenville State sophomore running back Rahmann Lee was this week's MEC Offensive Player of the Week.
The Hilltoppers have now had the MEC's Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week in back-to-back weeks as defensive back Rod Whiteand punter Griff Yocum were honored in Week Two.
West Liberty (2-1, 2-0) will host Concord (1-2, 1-0) this week in the annual Hall of Fame Game. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Russek Field.
2013 MEC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 9
Offense: Ray Russ, QB, Notre Dame
Defense: Octavius Thomas, LB, Shepherd
Special Teams: James Long, KR, UVA-Wise
Sept. 16
Offense: D.J. Mendenhall, QB, Urbana
Defense: ROD WHITE, DB, WEST LIBERTY; Levi Barber, LB, Shepherd
Special Teams: GRIFF YOCUM, WEST LIBERTY
Sept. 23
Offense: Rahmann Lee, Glenville State
Defense: ANDREW FARAIMO, WEST LIBERTY
Special Teams: BRYAN ARBES, WEST LIBERTY
