Jaguars’ high-scoring duo keeps up pressure
Johnson edged closer to its second straight District 28-6A championship on Tuesday with a 3-0 win against Reagan led by an attacking combination that has translated to plenty of success.
Senior forward Mabry Williams scored twice, and junior midfielder Camila Palacios added the other goal as the Jaguars swept their Stone Oak rival and improved to 13-0 (39 points in district) and widened their advantage over second-place Reagan (10-2-1, 31 points).
“As long as we are going into the game with a positive mentality, we know we can come out with a win,” said Williams, who is signed with Oklahoma State. “I have belief in our team. I believe everything that we’ve accomplished is for a reason, and we just have to keep that mindset up.”
The Jaguars are 18-1 overall, thanks largely to Williams (30 goals) and Palacios (16 goals), the team’s top scorers. Williams largely occupies a lone striker spot and is supported by Palacios, a crafty offensive force from the midfield.
“I really like how they work together,” senior Ashlyn Digioia said. “They really combine off each other a lot, even if they are not combining one-onone for an assist and a goal. They’re making runs in order for the other to get a better opportunity. They’re in tune with each other.”
Situated in the defensive midfield, Digioia gets a great look at their work. And sometimes she gets involved, like on Tuesday when she sent a through ball that Palacios tracked down for the Jaguars’ first score eight minutes into the match. Digioia said Palacios found space because Williams, playing wider than usual, drew defenders and opened things up.
“We have that certain flow,” Palacios said of teaming with Williams. “It just clicks. We go together.”
It’s the product of playing together for several seasons.
“We both know when we pass to each other, there’s going to be another movement and another wanting to find the ball, and that comes from both of us,” said Palacios, who is committed to Arkansas. “It’s constant movement and constant finding each other and the trust.”
That’s also been the case for the previous two seasons. Last season, Palacios led the Jaguars with 35 goals, while Williams had 28. In 2022, Williams scored 34 goals and Palacios had 19. Counting their assists, they’re responsible for 211 of the Jaguars’ 264 goals (80%) since the 2022 season.
“We play off of each other,” Williams said. “When we get the ball, the other player is making a run behind. We always have help for each other, and if anyone makes a mistake, we know it’s not serious and we just keep our heads up and keep going.”
Digioia leads the team with 12 assists, including the one to Palacios on Tuesday. Jordin Trimble is second with six assists and had one on Williams’ second score on Tuesday. Kelly Franks had the other assist.
“It’s been really good this year because we have the personnel,” Digioia said. “We’re getting it out for them, and they’re finishing, and it’s really good.”
Johnson has won 14 straight games since dropping its only contest in 2024 — a 2-1 defeat against Red Oak in the NEISD Showcase. The Jaguars have recorded nine shutouts and conceded seven goals since then. Sophomore goalkeeper Addison Brown preserved a shutout on Tuesday with several saves, including getting a hand on a header from Reagan’s Kate Salazar early in the match.
The Jaguars believe the loss against Red Oak was not indicative of how cohesive the team has played this season.
“We didn’t go into that game with a good mentality, and we’ve learned from that mistake in every game since,” Williams said.
The Jaguars want everything to lead to a long playoff run. A year ago, Johnson lost in a 3-2 shootout against Austin Vandegrift in the second round and ended their season at 17-5-2.
“We’ll do whatever it takes to win,” Williams said. “We’ll fall on the ground — whatever it takes to win. Last year, it really wasn’t like that, but we’ve learned from that.”