Wilson’s selflessness catching eye of NMB coaches, teammates

For some time, Stephon Wilson made his aspirations of playing quarterback for North Myrtle Beach known to anyone who would ask.

With a reliable senior in Ronnie Bass returning at quarterback, however, he wasn’t given the nod to take snaps under center for the Chiefs this season.

Certainly, it was a tough pill to swallow. But it also proved to be a character building moment for Wilson, who instead of sulking sought another way to contribute to his football team.

Pivoting back to the linebacker position, he led North Myrtle Beach with 10 total tackles Friday night in its 28-13 victory over Timberland. The effort of Wilson and the Chiefs’ front seven was key in the win, limiting a vaunted Wolves’ ground game to a total of 200 yards.

“(North Myrtle Beach football coach Blair Hardin) told us that we had worked hard all spring and summer for this,” Wilson said. “He knew we could do this. He wanted us to make a statement, and I think we did.”

Undersized at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, Hardin said it Wilson’s heart and selflessness that sets him apart from most.

“He’s an unselfish servant to our team,” the North Myrtle Beach coach added. “He played linebacker last year undersized, and is doing so again this year. He’s a warrior, a leader for our defense being a junior, and is a great young man of character.

“(Wilson) gave up a position to help out our team; and to do that, I think the world of him.”

Eventually, Wilson believes his time will come at the quarterback position. Right now, though, the goal is to simply chip in wherever he can and make North Myrtle Beach the best football possible.

“Playing for my teammates, I have to (fly around on defense),” he said. “I wanted to be quarterback, but they put me at linebacker so I have to and I’m going to play for them.”

HTC Game of the Week

Following impressive victories to begin the season, Loris and North Myrtle Beach will face off in Little River this Friday. One of the area’s biggest rivalries, it has been designated as this week’s ‘HTC Game of the Week.’ The contest will be available on cable via HTC Channel 4 and online at HTCConnect.com.

News and notes

▪ Fifteen teams arrived this past weekend with a single goal — take home the Carolina Forest Panther Invitational crown. Inevitably, it would be Midlands volleyball powerhouse Blythewood that did so, downing Myrtle Beach in the tournament title game.

The Bengals’ Gabby Waden was named tourney MVP. Five local players were named to the all-tournament team, among them were Kenzlie Andersen (Carolina Forest); Reagan Bass (Waccamaw); Skylar Campbell (St. James); Gracie Davis (Myrtle Beach); and Maggie Hash (North Myrtle Beach).

▪  The Carolina Forest swim teams got off to strong starts this past Saturday, the boys team winning the Florence High School Invitational, while the girls finished second. Nineteen boys swimmers earned personal bests during the meet, while 17 girls did the same.

Both teams will take to the pool this weekend, when Carolina Forest hosts the 2016 Ripley’s Invitational, which begins Saturday at 9 a.m. at Pepper Geddings Recreation Center. The biggest swim meet in South Carolina, more than 400 athletes are expected to participate.

This story was originally published August 22, 2016 at 4:43 PM with the headline "Wilson’s selflessness catching eye of NMB coaches, teammates."