OAKWOOD -- Johnson High boys soccer has produced some incredible players and teams through the years.
Fabian Abarca is already amongst the best -- and he's still a junior.
"He’s playing right there with, historically, Francisco Arellano (the program's all-time leading scorer). He’s right there Vicente Trujillo, who graduated back in 2010. Right there with a Juan Morfin. His name’s up there, his performances are up there with those guys so far," Knights coach Brian Shirley said.
Abarca has 71 goals to his name so far -- roughly 30 off Arellano's mark -- and both he and the Johnson program hope he has plenty more left in him this season, as they continue their route through the Class AAAA playoffs. (NOTE: Johnson is one of 15 area teams left alive in the state playoffs, look below for a complete list of second round games involving area teams.)
The Knights cruised through the first round, with Abarca bagging four goals in an 8-1 rout of Pickens. Johnson faces Thomas County Central on Wednesday in the second round in Oakwood -- and Johnson expects the visitors to pay plenty of attention to its junior striker.
"Every team tries to. Every team tries to shut me down, but just moving without the ball and trusting my teammates is going to help us be successful as a team and get further in the playoffs," Abarca said.
Only one team managed to keep Abarca off the scoresheet this season -- Class AAAAAA second round program Habersham Central -- and that's because the dynamic playmaker is about far more than just scoring. His ability to pick a pass, hold the ball under pressure and lead are just as impressive as his nose for goal.
"He’s taken on a leadership role this year as a junior; before the game he addresses the team. He’s kind of put the team on his shoulders a little bit off the field," said Shirley, who watched Abarca blossom into a full-on star during last season's run to the Class AAAA championship game. "We saw that -- him put the team on his shoulders last year in the (state) tournament -- he’s kinda growing into more of a leadership role this season."
The only thing that really kept Abarca quiet was a red card -- a dubious two-game suspension he received midseason that kept him on the sidelines for a pair of Region 8-AAAA contests, including the only region defeat Johnson suffered this season.
"It was really bad. I really wanted to be out there with (my teammates), but I couldn’t help them out," Abarca said. "It was really a bad experience."
There haven't been any since -- Johnson's play on the field has seen to that.
"He’s come out very motivated," Shirley said. "He’s kind of got a chip on his shoulder, kind of a little bit more fire and intensity from not being able to play those two games -- two of those games being huge for us. He’s leaving it all on the field when he’s out here every time."
In doing so, he's helped a young Knights squad -- which starts three freshmen -- to develop the grit and confidence to go along with an abundance of talent. It is a squad that Abarca believes has the ability to be even more successful than last year's state runner-up finalist.
"This team is even better than last year," Abarca said. "We have a deeper bench than last year, so that will help us a lot. I think this team is capable of not only making it to the state championship but actually winning it."
While there are plenty of big hurdles left to clear, you can bet that Abarca will be in the forefront, leading the way.
STATE SOCCER PLAYOFFS, SECOND ROUND SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, Girls
Class AAAA
Buford (13-1) vs. Mary Persons (17-2), 5:30 p.m.
West Laurens (9-9) vs. Chestatee (13-6), 5:30 p.m.
Class AAA
Lumpkin County (15-0-1) vs. Pierce County (10-4-1), 5:30 p.m.
Dawson County (15-3) at Peach County (6 p.m.), 6 p.m.
West Hall (6-7-2) at Savannah Arts Academy (16-3), 6 p.m.
Class AA
Union County (9-1) vs. Thomasville (5-11-2), 5:30 p.m.
Class A
Lakeview Academy (11-4) at Fellowship Christian (13-0-2), 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Boys
Class AAAAAA
Habersham Central (11-5) vs. McEachern (11-3-1), 7 p.m.
Class AAAAA
Gainesville (14-3) vs. Greenbrier (17-1-1), 6:30 p.m.
Class AAAA
Johnson (16-2) vs. Thomas County Central (11-6), 7 p.m.
Class AAA
West Hall (10-1-2) vs. Savannah Arts (16-2-1), 7 p.m.
East Hall (13-5-1) at Jackson (13-0), 6 p.m.
Dawson County (11-3-2) at Islands (14-2-2), 7 p.m.
Class AA
Riverside Military (13-2) vs. Long County (9-3-1), 4:30 p.m.
Union County (9-1-1) at Thomasville (16-2-1), 5:30 p.m.
