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It would have been permissible for fans in the Carter-Finley Stadium stands to think the field titled at times during last Saturday’s 1A state championship game between Northside and Murphy.

The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Zion Wilson of Northside was matched against 6-foot-5 330-pound Yousef Mugharbil on offense and defense all day long.

Wilson more than held his own against the four-star recruit headed to the University of Florida and might have caught Ayden-Grifton and East All-Star head coach Paul Cornwell’s attention in the process.

Earlier this week, Cornwell chose Wilson to represent the East in the July 21^st contest at Grimsley High School in Greensboro.

“It’s a big honor and I hope it helps me get on some Division 1 coaches’ radar,” Wilson said. “I have wanted to play in an All-Star game since my freshman year, so this is a huge deal. Playing against Murphy’s big guy showed me that I can compete with anybody. I thought I did a good job blocking him on offense and getting around him on defense.”

Wilson is the first Panther since Derrick Leathers in 2000 to play in the East-West game and the third in program history.

“He has a habit of making plays in other teams backfields,” coach Keith Boyd said. “He’s a good kid who works hard in the weight room and deserves a shot to play in college.”

Wilson had 30 tackles for the Panthers, including 15 for a loss and three sacks.  He’ll be one of just a few 1A players on an East team that has competed in the game every year since 1949, except for 2020, when COVID-19 forced a cancellation.

“Representing Northside in the championship game was great and I’m looking forward to doing it again,” Wilson said. “It motivates me to keep working so I can play at the next level.”