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Moxey to miss first half of New Mexico game over targeting rule

<p>Boise State cornerback Jonathan Moxey (2) looks on at practice.</p>

BOISE -- The Boise State football team will be without one of their most experienced defensive players for the first half of their game against New Mexico this week, the Mountain West confirmed on Monday.

Senior cornerback Jonathan Moxey was ejected for targeting in the fourth quarter of Boise State's 21-10 win over Utah State on Saturday, and according to NCAA rules, a player who is ejected for targeting in the second half of a game must also miss the first half of the following game.

The play involving Moxey occurred with 1:19 left in the fourth quarter when he attempted to tackle Utah State running back Tonny Lindsey. Lindsey dropped a pass in the flat, dipped his head following the play, and Moxey's helmet made connect with Lindsey's.

A flag was immediately thrown, and after an official review of the play, Moxey was ejected from the game.

"What I saw on the play was two guys going for the ball," said head coach Bryan Harsin during his postgame press conference. "The bad thing is you're talking about a suspension in the next game. That's significant."

Mountain West associate commissioner of communications Javan Hedlund confirmed on Monday that the suspension will stand, and that there is no postgame appeals process to overturn the ruling.

"Per NCAA rule, once replay confirms the targeting and ejection of a player it cannot be appealed," said Hedlund.

Moxey had seven tackles against Utah State, which was one short of a career-high. He also had three passes defended, which tied a career-high.

So far this season he ranks fifth on the team with 20 total tackles. Also, his 30 career starts are the third most amongst Boise State defensive players, trailing only linebackers Ben Weaver (34) and Tanner Vallejo (33).

Moxey - who played as a true freshman in 2013 - and linebacker Darren Lee are the only Boise State players to have appeared in all 44 games over the last four seasons.

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