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WINGATE – In a battle of 8-1 teams, the Bald Eagle Area football team made sure they would enter the postseason stretch in style as they dominated Penn Cambria in a Laurel Highlands week 10 contest.
In the end, the Eagles had a total team effort in the 46-0 victory.
"I was really proud of the kids. They played hard. We got tested there after Clearfield. I challenged the kids and I thought they responded," said Bald Eagle Area coach Jesse Nagle. "It's a new season now. Nothing matters now. Everybody is 0-0 and I told them that it's very important to get everybody all in. Everybody has to be on and ready to go."
Offensively, the Eagles offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and kept their quarterback Carson Nagle upright, allowing only a first quarter sack. The running game was able to open the air waves for Bald Eagle, pounding out 21-first half points. Cam Dubbs led the ground-and-pound game with 71 yards in the first half while teammates Cam Watkins and Nick Wible each added a 25-yard and 27-yard first half effort.
Defensively, the Eagles, led by Eric Clark's three sacks, put Panthers quarterback Brady Jones down four times, including two fall downs. Jones finished the first half going 7-for-11 for 45 yards.
The Eagles did not allow the Panthers a positive showing in the ground game, holding them to minus-18.
The punt return team got into the act as well, not allowing any lengthy returns by Penn Cambria, posting hits almost immediately after their opponents touched the ball.
Bald Eagle got the scoring started midway through the opening stanza when quarterback Carson Nagle lifted a 50-yard touchdown pass to Beau Taylor. With the Kaden Burns kick at 7:06, the Eagles were on their way.
In the second qurter, the Eagles were able to score twice to extend their lead going into the intermission.
On the ground, Nagle handed off the ball to Kahale Burns who muscled his way in from 8-yards out for the TD run. Another Burns kick extended it to 14. Rounding out the first half scoring was Dubbs with a 15-yard run at 5:33, making it a 21-0 shut out going into halftime.
Coming out of the intermission, the Eagles continued its domination as it found its way back into the scoreboard after holding the Panthers to a 3-and-out.
One play later, the Eagles were back on the scoreboard.
Nagle took the first play from scrimmage and launched it to Gavin Burns for a 59-yard touchdown hook up. Nagle finished with 172-yards passing.
Bald Eagle's defense continued to dominate the contest, forcing the once beaten Panthers out of their comfort zone as it rushed its plays. Holding a 27-0 advantage, things continued to click offensively as the Eagles were able to spread out the scorers.
This time Wible would get the nod as he rumbled through the line of scrimmage and blazed his way through the secondary for the 31-yard touchdown scamper.
Bald Eagle's defense got in the act in the final minute of the third.
Kollin Cunningham picked off a Panthers pass, resulting in 35-yard interception return, with 1:39 left in the third. With the game now in mercy rule, the Eagles added a late touchdown to put the finishing touches of game.
Back up quarterback Kaleb Irion passed a 66-yard touchdown to Gavin Brooks, with just 68 seconds left.
Now it's waiting time as the Eagles wait to see who will be in their next opponent for the opening round of District 6 postseason.
Penns Cambria 0 0 0 0 -- 0
Bald Eagle Area 7 14 19 6 -- 46
First quarter
BEA--Carson Nagle 50 pass to Beau Taylor (Kaden Burns kick), 7:06
Second quarter
BEA--Kahale Burns 8 run (Burns kick), 10:39
BEA--Cam Dubbs 15 run (Burns kick), 5:33
Third quarter
BEA--Nagle 59 pass to Gavin Burns (kick blocked), 10:40
BEA--NIcholas Wible 31 run (kick failed), 2:21
BEA--Kollin Cunningham 35 interception return (Burns kick), 1:39
Fourth quarter
BEA--Kaleb Irion 66 pass to Gavin Brooks, 1:08.
TEAM STATISTICS
PC BEA
First downs 6 18
Rushes-yds 27-44 30-219
C-A-I 11-22-1 10-19-0
Passing yards 64 238
Total yards 108 457
Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1
Penalties-yards 5-25 6-55
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: PC – Gavin Harrold 3-8, Thomas Plunkett 6-14, Brady Jones 6-(-34), Chase Plazek 1-(-1), Evan LAtterner 5-31, Cam Coudriet 4-17, Marcus Eckenrode 1-0. BEA – Cam Dubbs 13-88, Carson Nagle 1-(-8), Cam Watkins 3-34, Kahale Burns 3-13, Beau Taylor 1-2, Nick Wible 5-68, Nicholas McCulley 2-12, Sam Clark 1-5, Blake Houck-Leitzell 1-5.
PASSING: PC – Jones 9-15 47, Latterner 2-7 17. BEA – Nagle 9-18-172, Kaleb Irion 1-1 66.
RECEIVING : PC – Harrold 4-6, Plunkett 1-(-1)Carter McDermitt 4-42, Eckenrode 1-16, Plazek 1-1. BEA – Gavin Burns 1-59, Dubbs 1-5, Watkins 1-12, Kahale Burns 3-32, Taylor 2-62, Wyatt Spackman 1-2, Gavin Brooks 1-66.