Boise State senior tight end Chris O'Neill likely will miss the rest of the season with a broken foot, coach Chris Petersen said Monday.

O'Neill, a starter, is tied for second on the team with 10 receptions for 131 yards and two touchdowns. He had a 44-yard touchdown catch on a trick play last week against Louisiana Tech - the longest reception of his career.

Junior Richie Brockel, who starts as the fullback/tight end, sophomore Tommy Gallarda and freshman Kyle Efaw will pick up O'Neill's playing time. Brockel and Gallarda are listed as starters for the No. 15 Broncos' game Saturday at Southern Miss (6 p.m. MDT, CBS College Sports).

O'Neill was in the midst of his best season and was playing far more snaps than any other tight end on the team.

"He is a big loss for us," Petersen said. "Chris was having a great year. He just did so many things for us - special teams-wise and certainly tight end-wise. At least he went out swinging, on a high note."

Petersen said there's a "slim" chance that O'Neill could return for a bowl game. Doctors are still studying the injury to determine the best treatment.

Brockel (six catches, 65 yards), Gallarda (two, 24, one TD) and Efaw (three, 49) have made plays in the pass game, but Brockel is the only proven blocker in the bunch.

"Those other guys have to get more of the game plan and need to step up," Petersen said.

Meanwhile, the Broncos' defensive line might be missing two starters this week. Senior tackle Joe Bozikovich is out for a couple weeks, Petersen said, and senior tackle Sean Bingham is probable after missing last week's game.

Freshman Billy Winn and senior Steven Reveles are listed as the starting tackles this week. Reveles started last week and was the team's defensive player of the week.

WAC HONORS MOORE AGAIN

Boise State freshman quarterback Kellen Moore was named the WAC offensive player of the week Monday for the second time.

Moore was 20-of-28 for 325 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-3 defeat of Louisiana Tech last Wednesday. His rating for the game was 185.36.

Moore is sixth in the nation in pass efficiency at 181.3, completing 72 percent of his passes - and he isn't showing any signs that the success is getting to him, Petersen said.

"That's the beauty of Kellen," Petersen said. "He has never given us any indication since he's been here that he would change his demeanor or style of play."

Hawaii safety Keao Monteilh (two interceptions, seven tackles) and Hawaii kicker Dan Kelly (career-high four field goals, including 33-yard game-winner) were the WAC defensive and special teams players of the week.

SOUTHERN MISS BAFFLES

The Golden Eagles are 2-3 this season despite having the Conference USA preseason offensive and defensive players of the year. Those two have delivered, too - tailback Damion Fletcher is fourth in the nation with 142 rushing yards per game and linebacker Gerald McRath is tied for seventh in tackles with 11 per game.

The Eagles have lost their past two games, against Marshall and UTEP, by a total of 10 points. They missed three field goals in the 40-37 double-overtime loss to UTEP - a game in which Fletcher rushed for a school-record 260 yards.

"I'm very disappointed in (the 2-3 start), just as the players are, our coaching staff, our fans - we're all disappointed in it," said first-year coach Larry Fedora. "The good thing about it is you can pull out two or three plays in each game and see where we could very easily be 4-1, or 5-0, right now."

The Eagles, who already lost at No. 20 Auburn, are eager to play the Broncos, Fedora said. Boise State won the first meeting 38-16 last year in Boise.

"No one gives you a chance to win- that's what gets you out of bed in the morning, gets you motivated," Fedora said.