Here’s why 4 Bald Eagle Area football players were named to the all-state team

Josh Moyer
·4 min read

The season may have ended a month ago, but the honors and accolades are still rolling in for the Bald Eagle Area football team.

Four players — one junior and three seniors — were named Thursday to the Class 2A Pa. Football Writers’ All-State team. They include athlete Kahale Burns, defensive lineman Eric Clark, wide receiver Camron Watkins and junior quarterback Carson Nagle.

“It’s a real honor for those kids,” BEA coach Jesse Nagle said. “They didn’t start playing football until seventh grade — one of them eighth grade — so the hard work and dedication they put into the sport is unbelievable, and this is just one way it paid off.”

The selections come a month after BEA’s 12-2 campaign ended with a PIAA quarterfinal loss to Southern Columbia, which went on to win its seventh consecutive state title. To make it to that point, the Eagles had routed Richland 49-0 in the District 6 Class 2A championship to claim their third district title since 2018.

Here’s a closer look at BEA’s four selections, which were voted on by sports writers throughout the commonwealth via a statewide ballot:

  • ATH Kahale Burns: The dynamic 5-foot-7 athlete caught 94 passes for 14 TDs and more than 1,100 yards.

  • DL Eric Clark: At 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, Clark wreaked havoc on opposing offenses to the tune of 77 tackles, 29 tackles for loss and 11 sacks.

  • QB Carson Nagle: The 5-foot-11 junior passed for more than 3,500 yards and 38 touchdowns, to go along with a 71% completion rate.

  • WR Camron Watkins: The physical 6-foot-2 wideout finished with 61 catches for more than 850 yards and eight touchdowns.

QB Carson Nagle is the Eagles’ only all-state pick set to return next season. And, while his father, Jesse, acknowledged it’s difficult talking about his signal-caller, he’s expecting his son to take another step forward.

“A lot of his real good friends are in this group, but his next step would be leading the younger kids now and getting them in the weight room and offseason workouts,” Jesse Nagle said. “He has already called different kids to get together to throw with him. We are looking forward to watching him grow into a complete leader.”

Since 2009, Pennsylvania sports writers who cover high school athletics have overseen the all-state process, which was started by The Associated Press. Players are nominated in all six classifications; Classes A, 2A and 3A were released Thursday while Classes 4A, 5A and 6A will be released Friday.

So far, Bald Eagle Area is the only Centre County program with any all-state selections. State College does have players nominated, but the Class 6A all-state team has not yet been released.

Bald Eagle Area’s Kahale Burns cuts down the field with the ball from a Penns Valley defender during the game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023.
Bald Eagle Area’s Kahale Burns cuts down the field with the ball from a Penns Valley defender during the game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023.
Bald Eagle Area’s Eric Clark stops Clearfield’s Carter Chamberlain during the game on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.
Bald Eagle Area’s Eric Clark stops Clearfield’s Carter Chamberlain during the game on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.
Bald Eagle Area’s Carson Nagle makes a pass during the game against Philipsburg-Osceola’s on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023.
Bald Eagle Area’s Carson Nagle makes a pass during the game against Philipsburg-Osceola’s on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023.
Bald Eagle Area’s Camron Watkins evades a tackle from Penns Valley’s Colton Shawver during the game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023.
Bald Eagle Area’s Camron Watkins evades a tackle from Penns Valley’s Colton Shawver during the game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023.

Class 2A PFW All-State team

Player of the Year: Garrett Garcia, Southern Columbia

Coach of the Year: Donta Green, Westinghouse

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Carson Nagle, Bald Eagle Area – 5-11, 185 junior

Jase Ferguson, Central Clarion – 6-0, 185 junior

Drew Branstetter, Camp Hill – 6-1, 180 junior

Kabron Smith, Farrell – 5-11, 195 senior

Running Back

Alex Achenbach, Williams Valley – 5-11, 185 senior

Garrett Garcia, Southern Columbia – 6-1, 225 senior

Donald Barksdale, Steel Valley – 5-10, 172 junior

Luke Blessing, Mount Carmel – 5-11, 185 junior

Ben Miller, Wilmington – 5-11, 200 senior

Wide Receiver

Reese Gaughan, Riverside – 6-0, 200 senior

Camron Watkins, Bald Eagle Area – 6-2, 205 senior

Dorian McGhee, Western Beaver – 6-1, 200 senior

Taymir O’Neal, Westinghouse – 5-11, 195 senior

Xavier Diaz, Mount Carmel – 5-9, 160 senior

Tight End

Jacob Schultz, Mount Carmel – 6-2, 190 junior

Offensive Line

Jed Feldmeier, Troy – 6-2, 255 senior

Mike Crist, Steel Valley – 6-3, 300 senior

Noah Shimko, Mount Carmel – 6-5, 305 junior

Sean Sokolowski, Mercyhurst Prep – 6-4, 255 senior

Joe Eckenrode, Bishop Guilfoyle – 6-2, 273 junior

Jude Bremigen, Southern Columbia – 5-10, 210 junior

Athlete

Danny Pigga, Dunmore – 6-0, 165 senior

Kahale Burns, Bald Eagle Area – 5-7, 145 senior

Louden Murphy, Southern Columbia – 6-1, 180 senior

DEFENSE

Defensive Line

Michael Richardson, Westinghouse – 6-2, 195 senior

Max Johnson, Line Mountain – 6-4, 190 sophomore

Isaac Carter, Southern Columbia – 6-1, 215 senior

Chris Conte, Dunmore – 6-5, 275 senior

Eric Clark, Bald Eagle Area – 6-3, 250 senior

Linebacker

Dominic Fetterolf, Southern Columbia – 6-1, 220 junior

Braylon Beckwith, Central Clarion – 5-9, 180 junior

Chandon Maurer, Line Mountain – 6-1, 195 senior

Marion Norris, Farrell – 5-10, 200 senior

Nick Donvito, Dunmore – 5-9, 200 senior

Dayshaun Burnett, Imani Christian – 6-2, 200 junior

Defensive Back

Pace Prosser, Berlin Brothersvalley – 6-2, 188 senior

Riley Vanderpool, Towanda – 5-10, 155 junior

Cael Harter, Annville-Cleona – 5-8, 145 senior

Anthony Bonner, Neshannock – 6-0, 180 senior

Specialist

Brady Spalding, Troy – 5-8, 145 senior

Athlete

Evan McCracken, Richland – 5-9, 185 senior

Kobe Moore, Camp Hill – 6-0, 180 senior

Ty Abram, Westinghouse – 5-11, 195 senior