In the game of football, pride is everything. It is a pure, visceral emotion that, when properly harnessed, can separate winners from losers and can turn simple contenders into champions.
It is an emotion that runs deep through the heart of Valdosta, Georgia. The winning ways of the Valdosta Wildcats are constantly on display for the world to see: six national, 24 state, and 41 region titles.
To be a Wildcat, one must not only understand appreciate the heritage. It becomes a daily necessity to bleed black and gold. It is an indescribable feeling to take the field of battle in Death Valley, honorably named in the memories of former coaches Wright Bazemore and Nick Hyder.
Valdosta is a town of success. The Wildcats are a team of unprecedented accomplishments. And standing tall in the middle of the secondary for the storied band of stellar student-athletes is safety Antwon Kincade.
“This city is known for its legacy,” he says. “This is ‘Winnersville’, and that’s not something to be taken lightly. No other high school in this country has been able to do what we’ve done.”
Although he was born in Valdosta, Kincade’s family moved to Jacksonville, Fla., when he was young. However, when you’re meant to be a Wildcat, it’s impossible to stay away; his family returned to Georgia when he was 11 years old and have remained since. Originally a receiver in his early playing days, he soon realized how much he enjoyed the contact of the sport; his passion for hitting opponents took him to the other side of the field, and he’s lined up in the secondary ever since.
His parents, Sharon Montgomery and Antonio Kincade, wanted to get their son away from his current love of backyard football and return him to an environment in which the game was taught with more stability. Knowing that Valdosta could provide that environment better than Jacksonville, the decision proved to be a positive one.
“My parents are my everything,” says Kincade, who also credits his aunt, Ilona Kincade, as a major influence in his life as well. “They are the type of parents that stress to my siblings and me the importance of leaving a legacy. They want their kids to be better than them, and that is my daily motivation. They’ve laid tremendous groundwork, and it’s my job to make them proud.”
Thus far, his accomplishments have undoubtedly done the job. His outstanding career has earned him numerous accolades and honors, most recently including a nod as a member of the GHSA Class AAAAAA All-State First Team just a season ago. Highlighting last season’s performances for the young star is his game-clinching stop in the first round of the postseason against North Cobb High School.
“We were up four, 21-17, near the end of the game,” Kincade says. “Their team was at midfield and their quarterback threw a 49-yard lob to try to win the game. I was the deepest man back, so I jumped and caught the game-sealing interception. It was amazing.”
The Wildcats opened the year with three consecutive wins over Lowndes (38-13), Woodland (51-12), and Wayne County (28-0). While all equally impressive, it is the season-opening win that holds the greatest significance. Valdosta’s crosstown rival moved up to the newly-formed Class AAAAAAA prior to the 2016 season; because of this, the Winnersville Classic, regularly scheduled around the end of October, became an early year matchup.
Bragging rights remained the same; the Wildcats would take home their third straight win in the Classic and fourth since 2011. But what would make this win stand out above the rest is what it did to Valdosta’s overall win total.
“That was win number 900,” Kincade says. “Nobody’s coming close to this. Put it in perspective; we’re that much closer to 1,000. And we got to hit this milestone by beating our archrivals. It doesn’t get any better than that. I’m just blessed that I was able to be a part of something so meaningful.”
2014 began in similar fashion for the ‘Cats; the team opened on a seven-game win streak before eventually falling to the soon-to-be state-champion Colquitt Packers in Week Eight. This time around, the game will be similar to the one against the Vikings, as Colquitt has also moved up to Class AAAAAAA. But regardless of classification, Kincade still has not forgotten that loss. Even more so, he has the Packers very high on his radar for 2016.
“I’ll never forget that game,” he says. “As a matter of fact, I want them more than any other team on this schedule now that Lowndes is behind us. I have yet to beat Colquitt in my career as a Wildcat, and that is something that I fully intend to change on September 23. I’ll never go as far as to say that I ‘hate’ anyone…but there is a strong dislike there.”
Kincade’s animosity is a major reason that he is not afraid to hold back with his confidence and opinions. His braggadocio is even more evident in his style of play; his professional favorite, Kam Chancellor, is reflected in Kincade’s brash talk and bone-jarring, smash-mouth nature on the gridiron. He has even voiced that, for a while, he wore the number 31 on his uniform because of Chancellor.
“(Chancellor) is very vocal,” Kincade says. “He’s not afraid; I’ve never seen fear in him. And, like him, I love to talk trash. Winning, losing, it doesn’t matter. I’m finding their key players, and I’m getting in their heads. They’re going to know that I’m there, and I’m not going anywhere the whole night. Once I’m in your head, the game is essentially ours for the taking.”
When you’re dedicated to academics and athletics equally, it is only a matter of time before collegiate scouts come calling. Sure enough, Kincade has earned his share of attention from countless schools. While a decision has not been made, all are being considered. He has earned approximately a dozen offers from the next level, including Southern Mississippi, Central Michigan, Western Kentucky, and Mercer, just to name a few. While not set on a college major as of yet, he voices a love for animals and could see himself involved in zoology of something of the sort.
“Football has been big because of the interaction,” he says. “Later in life, once I’ve become specialized in a career, I’ll be around other people that have their own specializations. We’ll be different, but we’ll work together with a common goal. It’s a major lesson that football has taught me. I can’t do what a lineman can do, and vice versa. But when we work together, we can get any job done.”
Kincade has set a great example for his teammates and others around him. But more importantly, he is setting a wonderful example for his younger siblings: 15-year-old Ladainian Kincade is currently suiting up at cornerback for the Wildcats, and 14-year-old Ajazhanae Montgomery is a clarinet player in the school’s band. He has grown up with a selfless mentatlity; he strives to put everything before himself.
Kincade specifically credits his trainer, Travis Hall, as a key reason for his determination. He says that Hall’s motivation forces him to be his absolute best, and it an attitude that he exudes daily. This vibrant spirit has been a game-changer from the field to the classroom. Teachers and coaches alike praise him for his gracious and unwavering ways, and rest assured that his future is one headed for certain success.
“Academics are my number-one priority, no doubt about it,” Kincade says. “But one thing is for sure. No matter where I go, football or not, I’ll be surrounded by thousands of people from every part of this country. And I’ll tell you this: They will know where I’m from. That Wildcat pride, that lack of fear, it goes with me everywhere. Everyone will know that I’m a Wildcat, because that is something that will forever make me proud.”
ITG Web Content
Leaving A Legacy: Antwon Kincade
Written by James A. Washington
Photo by Micki Krzynski
