By Blake Chadwick
After coming off their first winning season since 2015 and most wins in a season since 1994, Wichita South will be looking to build off that and continue their success for another year.
A catalyst for that success? Jay’Den Kirk-McGowan, a now senior running back, is one of the humblest guys around, but he is also a guy who will look to prove why he is one of the best players in the state again.
The senior was a first-team all-league player from a year ago, while he went on to rush for over 1300 yards and 16 touchdowns, all while leading the Titans to their first-ever playoff home game and first-ever win at home over league foe Wichita Heights.
“In my honest opinion, I don’t view myself as one of the best running backs in Kansas, but I view myself as a pretty good one,” Kirk-McGowan said. “I would rather be known for my character, personality, love for others, and also just my love for Jesus.”
Kirk-McGowan is originally from Texas, so football is in his blood. The senior has played football since he was seven years old, and now, as a senior wants to finish his career the right way.
“My personal goal this year is to become truly prepared for the next step in life, and that is to get my degree in education and one day pour into student life how coaches and teachers pour into mine,” Kirk-McGowan said. “The team goals are I want us to go far for sure but I want this last ride together to help grow every young man on that field with their future in life build traits that they can carry on for years to come to gain life lesson through the game of football and just have a great brotherhood to look back and always use the quote ‘This was us back in the day’”.
