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Logan • Utah State lost more than its Mountain West Conference opener late Saturday night.

The Aggies might have lost two of their best players.

Running back Devante Mays and safety Dallin Leavitt were injured during Air Force's 27-20 victory at Maverik Stadium. Both had to be helped off the field and did not return. There was no immediate update on their condition by Utah State.

Mays was hurt late in the first quarter.

After missing last week's 34-20 win over Arkansas State with an undisclosed leg injury, he did not start against the Falcons. He entered late in the first quarter, carried once for two yards and was injured.

Leavitt, a transfer from BYU who had emerged as Utah State's leader on defense, was hurt early in the third quarter while pursing quarterback Nate Romine on an eight-yard run.

"It's hard for me, as a coach, to see any player go down with an injury," Utah State's Matt Wells said. "I know the dedication and the time those kids have put in in the off-season. It doesn't matter who it is. My heart breaks for a kid when he gets injured."

Air Force also lost a key player during the game, but not because of injury.

Safety Weston Steelhammer, one of the top defensive backs in the Mountain West, was called for targeting and ejected when he blasted Aggie quarterback Kent Myers along the sideline in the third quarter.

"I didn't see the whole play," Wells said, "but that was a dad-gum late hit."

Air Force coach Troy Calhoun defended Steelhammer, who was tossed for the second time in four games. He was also ejected for targeting in the Falcons' 55-36 loss to Cal in the 2015 Armed Forces Bowl.

"The only thing I'll say is this," Calhoun said. "The quarterback is a runner, and any time there is a runner, you cannot use the crown of your helmet. That's the rule. Period. And yet, if you tackle a guy with your shoulder and there's some contact with the shoulder and some helmet-to-helmet …"

Calhoun continued: "Every time there's a tackle on the ball carrier, there's going to be helmet-to-helmet contact. Period. Until we learn to interpret that the right way, we've got all these interpretations and there's nothing clear cut. That's all I'll say on that."

After the game, Calhoun said the Falcons would appeal the targeting call. On Sunday night, however, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported the league won't consider changing it, so Steelhammer will miss the first half of next week's rivalry game against Navy.

Meanwhile, Utah State must rebound from one of the most disappointing defeats during Wells' four-year tenure as head coach.

The Aggies scored only three points from two first-and-goal situations in the second half. Also, two turnovers by Myers — an interception and fumble — led to 14 points by the Falcons.

"That's a hard loss," Wells said. "I hurt for those kids in that locker room. That locker room is really devastated right now, it might be one of the quietest I've ever heard since I've been here. I thought our kids fought, but I give credit to Air Force. They're a good team and are well-coached, so congratulations to them."

Asked about the missed scoring opportunities, Wells said, "That maybe sums up the whole game."

In the end, Myers completed 29 of 47 passes for 360 yards, including a 43-yarder to freshman Rayshad Lewis for a touchdown.

Sophomore Ron'Quavion Tarver continued to evolve into Utah State's top receiver. He had nine receptions — two more than in the first three games — for 143 yards.

"Coach [Jovon] Bouknight called my number, so I made a play," Tarver said. "That's what I'm supposed to do."

Tarver appeared to score a touchdown that would have given Utah State a 14-3 lead in the first quarter. Myers lofted a pass to him in the end zone, but the official on the play ruled he was out-of-bounds. Dubiously, the call was upheld after a review.

"I had it," Tarver said.

Twitter: @sluhm —

• Utah State might have lost two of its top players to injury during Saturday night's 27-20 loss to Air Force.

• Running back Devante Mays and safety Dallin Leavitt were helped from the field and did not return.

• After missing last week's 34-20 win over Arkansas State because of an injury, Mays was hurt on his first carry.