Varol Honored For Efforts Against N.C. State
9/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Following a career game against N.C. State, defensive lineman Paco Varol was honored today by the Big South Conference when he was named the league's first Defensive Player of the Week for the 2011 season.
Varol led Liberty's defensive effort against the Wolfpack on Saturday night, finishing the contest with a career-best seven tackles (five solo and two assisted). The Hamburg, Germany, native also added his first two career tackles for a loss (seven total yards), first career sack (five yards) and first collegiate forced fumble.
The N.C. State game marked the second year Varol has been on the field for the Flames. As a redshirt freshman in 2010, Varol saw playing time in five games, finishing with one tackle against Savannah State.
Varol helped Liberty's defensive unit hold N.C. State to 318 total offensive yards, as compared to Liberty's 406-total offensive yard effort. Liberty pulled within nine points, 30-21, midway through the fourth quarter, before the final two of the Flames seven turnovers led to 13 additional points and a final 43-21 margin.
Varol was one of four players honored today by the Big South Conference. Coastal Carolina quarterback Aramis Hillary was named Offensive Player of the Week, while Gardner-Webb's Ricky Rhodes and Trever Austin were named the league's Special Teams and Freshman of the Week, respectively.
Varol and the Flames will open up the home portion of their 2011 schedule this weekend, when Liberty hosts defending Northeast Conference champion and participant Robert Morris.
Last year, the Colonials used a late touchdown to upend the Flames, 30-23, in Pittsburgh, Pa., sparking a run that would eventually land Robert Morris in the NCAA FCS Playoffs.
