Derrick Goblirsch is tall. He has a strong arm. He's athletic. And he's also an excellent student.
"He's got everything going for him," said Ceres High JV football coach Mike Corsaut.
Goblirsch led the Ceres High varsity football team to a share of the Modesto Metro Conference title and into the playoffs for the second year in a row this past season. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound quarterback passed for 1,938 yards and 13 touchdowns.
When the deadline for National Signing Day approached, Goblirsch didn't field any phone calls from Division I coaches. The University of Redlands contacted Goblirsch but couldn't offer him a full scholarship because it's a Division III school.
"I thought I would have got a lot more recognition," Goblirsch said. "Hopefully, I can get more this year."
Goblirsch will join the Modesto Junior College football team this fall.
"I just want to play football," Goblirsch said.
"I love playing quarterback. If you lose, you get all the criticism. If you win, you get all the glory."
Goblirsch started working out with Rusty Stivers, the Pirates' offensive coordinator, on Feb. 19.
"We threw the ball around in the gym because it was raining outside and went into his office," Goblirsch said. "He told me I'm going to have every opportunity to win the starting job."
To prepare for the upcoming season, Goblirsch said he will meet with Stivers once or twice a week to review the team's playbook.
"He wants me to get started early so I can learn the offense," Goblirsch said.
With Goblirsch under center, the varsity football squad won 11 of 14 league games and went 13-9 overall in the span of two years.
Goblirsch ranked second in the Stanislaus District and first in the MMC in passing in 2004. He guided Ceres to its first league championship in 18 years. The Bulldogs also hosted a first-round playoff game for the first time since 1994.
"We had a successful year," Goblirsch said. "I wish we would have went farther in the playoffs."
As a junior, Goblirsch passed for 1,800 yards and 20 touchdowns in leading Ceres to a third-place finish in the Central California Conference at 7-2 and 7-4 overall record. The Bulldogs also secured a berth in the Division I playoffs for the first time in school history.
"I don't take credit for those two years," Goblirsch said. "It was everybody. We worked hard."
Goblirsch wouldn't have succeeded without help from head coach Bret Durossette, former assistant coach Donnie Donaldson and brother Clinton. Corsaut was also very supportive.
Derrick reviewed game film at Durossette's house during the weekends.
Derrick and Clinton also studied film. Clinton was Ceres High's starting quarterback in 2001.
"He'd come down during the weekend after every game (from Merced) and help me with my reads," Derrick said.
Goblirsch worked with Donaldson during his junior year.
"I give them a lot of credit," Goblirsch said. "They've worked just as hard as me at getting me to where I am now.
"There's still a lot of things I need to improve on to be successful at the next level. I need to improve on my reading capability and footwork."
Added Durossette: "He's good enough to play at a Division I school."
Said Corsaut: "It's been fun to see him develop."
Goblirsch played for Corsaut for two seasons.
When Goblirsch entered high school, he became a leader on the JV football team despite a lack of experience.
"I never played quarterback before," he said.
Goblirsch starred at quarterback as a freshman. He played a different position during his sophomore year.
"I put him at receiver because nobody could catch the ball," Corsaut said.
On Tuesday, May 24, Ceres High's head and assistant coaches selected the school's top male and female athletes. Goblirsch was honored for the second year in a row for excelling in football, basketball and baseball.
Father Rick and brother Clinton won the same award.
Rick and Clinton both played football, basketball and baseball at Ceres High. Clinton recently moved to Kansas City, Miss., to play baseball for Avila University.
"There's a lot of athletic talent in the family," Derrick said.
Mother Kimli starred on the Cal State Stanislaus volleyball team.
Younger sister Laura was one of the top athletes on the frosh-soph girls swimming team. She was also a member of the varsity water polo team.
What's most impressive about Derrick is that he works just as hard out of uniform. The academic, all-conference selection accumulated a 3.5 GPA. He scored 1,040 on the SAT.
"My goal is to get into any Division I college," Goblirsch said.
Princeton University is at the top of his wish list.
"If I go there I can do anything after college," he said.
Goblirsch wants to become a chiropractor. -- By DALE BUTLER Staff reporter of the Ceres (Calif.) Courier
"He's got everything going for him," said Ceres High JV football coach Mike Corsaut.
Goblirsch led the Ceres High varsity football team to a share of the Modesto Metro Conference title and into the playoffs for the second year in a row this past season. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound quarterback passed for 1,938 yards and 13 touchdowns.
When the deadline for National Signing Day approached, Goblirsch didn't field any phone calls from Division I coaches. The University of Redlands contacted Goblirsch but couldn't offer him a full scholarship because it's a Division III school.
"I thought I would have got a lot more recognition," Goblirsch said. "Hopefully, I can get more this year."
Goblirsch will join the Modesto Junior College football team this fall.
"I just want to play football," Goblirsch said.
"I love playing quarterback. If you lose, you get all the criticism. If you win, you get all the glory."
Goblirsch started working out with Rusty Stivers, the Pirates' offensive coordinator, on Feb. 19.
"We threw the ball around in the gym because it was raining outside and went into his office," Goblirsch said. "He told me I'm going to have every opportunity to win the starting job."
To prepare for the upcoming season, Goblirsch said he will meet with Stivers once or twice a week to review the team's playbook.
"He wants me to get started early so I can learn the offense," Goblirsch said.
With Goblirsch under center, the varsity football squad won 11 of 14 league games and went 13-9 overall in the span of two years.
Goblirsch ranked second in the Stanislaus District and first in the MMC in passing in 2004. He guided Ceres to its first league championship in 18 years. The Bulldogs also hosted a first-round playoff game for the first time since 1994.
"We had a successful year," Goblirsch said. "I wish we would have went farther in the playoffs."
As a junior, Goblirsch passed for 1,800 yards and 20 touchdowns in leading Ceres to a third-place finish in the Central California Conference at 7-2 and 7-4 overall record. The Bulldogs also secured a berth in the Division I playoffs for the first time in school history.
"I don't take credit for those two years," Goblirsch said. "It was everybody. We worked hard."
Goblirsch wouldn't have succeeded without help from head coach Bret Durossette, former assistant coach Donnie Donaldson and brother Clinton. Corsaut was also very supportive.
Derrick reviewed game film at Durossette's house during the weekends.
Derrick and Clinton also studied film. Clinton was Ceres High's starting quarterback in 2001.
"He'd come down during the weekend after every game (from Merced) and help me with my reads," Derrick said.
Goblirsch worked with Donaldson during his junior year.
"I give them a lot of credit," Goblirsch said. "They've worked just as hard as me at getting me to where I am now.
"There's still a lot of things I need to improve on to be successful at the next level. I need to improve on my reading capability and footwork."
Added Durossette: "He's good enough to play at a Division I school."
Said Corsaut: "It's been fun to see him develop."
Goblirsch played for Corsaut for two seasons.
When Goblirsch entered high school, he became a leader on the JV football team despite a lack of experience.
"I never played quarterback before," he said.
Goblirsch starred at quarterback as a freshman. He played a different position during his sophomore year.
"I put him at receiver because nobody could catch the ball," Corsaut said.
On Tuesday, May 24, Ceres High's head and assistant coaches selected the school's top male and female athletes. Goblirsch was honored for the second year in a row for excelling in football, basketball and baseball.
Father Rick and brother Clinton won the same award.
Rick and Clinton both played football, basketball and baseball at Ceres High. Clinton recently moved to Kansas City, Miss., to play baseball for Avila University.
"There's a lot of athletic talent in the family," Derrick said.
Mother Kimli starred on the Cal State Stanislaus volleyball team.
Younger sister Laura was one of the top athletes on the frosh-soph girls swimming team. She was also a member of the varsity water polo team.
What's most impressive about Derrick is that he works just as hard out of uniform. The academic, all-conference selection accumulated a 3.5 GPA. He scored 1,040 on the SAT.
"My goal is to get into any Division I college," Goblirsch said.
Princeton University is at the top of his wish list.
"If I go there I can do anything after college," he said.
Goblirsch wants to become a chiropractor. -- By DALE BUTLER Staff reporter of the Ceres (Calif.) Courier
