RECORD SETTER: Carson Nagle’s passing ability brought Eagles into peak form (2024)

TIM WEIGHT/For The ExpressBald Eagle Area quarterback Carson Nagle looks to throw against Bishop Guilfoyle during a game this season.

Bald Eagle Area quarterback Carson Nagle has been named the 2023 Express Player of the Year. Nagle is one of the more rare forms of talent that Central Pennsylvania has seen this season. The junior broke many school records, including the single season passing record and career passing record with one season left in his career. Nagle has established himself as one of the best–if not the best–quarterback Bald Eagle has seen.

There are electrifying numbers in sports, but then there are numbers that wow you, and Nagle’s make of the latter. He completed 277 of 390 passes (71%) this season for 3,569 yards (254.9 per game) and 38 touchdowns. He averaged 19 completions per game, 12.9 yards per throw and two touchdown throws per game with just five picks thrown all season. He also added two rushing touchdowns. Nagle broke the Bald Eagle single-season passing yards and touchdown passes while surpassing the career passing yards mark of 8,276 and career touchdown passes (83).

According to MaxPreps.com, Nagle led the PIAA, Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference (LHAC), Class AA and the state of Pennsylvania in passing yards. He ranked 77th in the country with his season passing numbers.

Nagle helped Bald Eagle to arguably its best season in school history when it posted a 12-2 overall record (10-1 in Laurel Highlands) and a trip to the PIAA state quarterfinal game when it fell to 2A state champion Southern Columbia. Having an elite quarterback is good for any squad but having efficient receivers is equally important. The Eagles had the two-way street working smoothly, and the passing game was Bald Eagle’s bread and butter behind Nagle’s magic.

If there is any player that truly started from scratch and clawed his way to success, it would be Nagle. As a freshman, Nagle gave light to Bald Eagle as they posted a 9-3 overall record (5-1 in now-defunct Mountain League) and threw for over 1,800 yards that season in 11 games with 172 yards per game and 16 touchdowns that year.

As he matured throughout high school, began to learn the pace and flow of football and settled in with his offensive coordinator, Nagle developed pretty quickly. The Eagles lost one more game last season than it did two seasons ago (8-4 overall) and Bald Eagle took another step towards the playoffs.

Nagle tossed out 202 completions in 310 attempts for 2,810 yards and 29 touchdowns. The downside, Nagle threw 12 interceptions that season with a 109.2 QB rating. The Eagles fell on the road to Penns Valley in what was a heartbreaker where mistaked cost Bald Eagle and the team saw its season crumble like a cookie right in front of its eyes.

With a slew of seniors coming back for one more season, Nagle knew it was time to make yet another leap this past season in his progression during a big junior year. Not only for his team’s sake but for his own success with colleges knocking at his doorstep.

Bald Eagle’s top quarterback left it all out on the field, but his receivers made those yards possible. Senior Kahale Burns left his final high school career with an astounding 1,161 yards receiving, 94 catches and 14 touchdowns, averaging over 82 yards per game. Watkins was second on the team with 61 receptions for 859 yards (61 per game) and eight touchdowns. Trailing just behind him was Gavin Burns, who caught 54 passes for 730 yards (52 yards per game) and seven touchdowns.

What helped to balance out the passing game was Bald Eagle’s ability to work in the rushing game. Senior running back Cameron Dubbs wasn’t the focal point of the offense but totaled 1,151 rushing yards, on 99 carries and scored 23 touchdowns.

With the historical numbers now in the books and the cleats and helmets put away until next fall, Nagle and the Eagles can reminisce over this season. Next year’s team will be a different squad with valuable seniors departing Wingate for bigger motives, but Nagle has eight months until its time to put the pads back on one final time. The last chance at breaking team and individual records, or maybe a shot at a state semifinal or final berth.