FRISCO, Texas – The Southland Conference has imposed a half-game suspension for Central Arkansas football player Jestin Love for targeting and initiating contact to the head or neck area of an opposing player during the team’s game against Sam Houston State on Saturday.

Love will be suspended for the first half of Central Arkansas’ game at Stephen F. Austin on Saturday.

 The NCAA football playing rules require conferences to automatically review video of unnecessary roughness acts that target the head or neck to determine if additional sanctions are necessary, whether officials call a penalty at the time. 

 “As called for by the NCAA after a review of video, the conference has confirmed the violation as a targeted hit to head and neck area, and after deliberation by the conference’s executive committee, the first-half suspension was determined to be the appropriate penalty,” Southland commissioner Tom Burnett said. “The Southland always strives to ensure the safety and well-being of its student-athletes within the NCAA playing rules during competition.”