Hey, if it works for David Montgomery
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, it will work for Chicago Christian’s Obi Goble.Two years ago, renowned Chicago-area running coach Chris Korfist gave Goble some good advice. Korfist had helped Montgomery, the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions running back.
Even though Goble’s dad, Jacob, is now a sprint coach for the Knights, Obi said he wasn’t very fast growing up in California and Arizona. But that changed in a meeting with Korfist.
“We went to his garage once and he worked with us,” Goble said of Korfist. “He’s extraordinary. He’s such a great coach. We learned a lot about speed and how to get faster.
“He taught me all about foot strength and ankle strength. He taught me about not letting my heels drop when sprinting. That was the biggest takeaway I got.”
Goble, a sophomore, said getting faster was a slow process, but it started clicking on the track during his freshman year, and it’s clicking on the football field as well.
He has been using his speed to make some big-time plays for the Knights (5-3, 3-3) as a return specialist, a running back and at various defensive positions, including punter.
Goble has been a driving force in getting Chicago Christian playoff eligible despite the team having to forfeit a game earlier in the season because of sickness and injuries.
The Knights wrap up the regular season Friday with a Chicagoland Christian Conference game against host Aurora Christian (6-2, 5-1). They will wait to see what happens with the postseason Saturday when the pairings are announced.
Korfist is happy to see Goble thriving.
“I remember a middle schooler who was willing to do anything to get better,” Korfist said of Goble. “I gave him a bunch of things to work on to bring his form into play so his power would help him rather than hurt him in running.”
It has worked out well.
The 5-foot-9, 150-pound Goble said he started to feel that burst of speed Sept. 15 in a 49-34 loss to Marian Central Catholic in Woodstock.
“It was very surprising,” he said.
In that game, he ran for a 70-yard TD and caught a 50-yard TD pass from Christian Flutman. Goble also had 100 yards on kickoff returns to finish with 243 in a heavy-duty, all-purpose performance.
Two weeks later in a 19-12 victory at Bishop McNamara, Goble returned an 87-yard kickoff for a TD to put the Knights ahead 13-6 with 4:50 left in the fourth quarter.
On Friday, he had a 45-yard run in a 38-0 win against Christ the King.
Dan Chiarito, who has been with the program since 2009 but is in his first year as Chicago Christian’s head coach, has been impressed by Goble.
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“He’s a hard worker, and I don’t think he gives himself enough credit,” Chiarito said. “He’s a fast guy, and he’s great on our track team. On the football team, every play he’s our Energizer Bunny.”
Chiarito appreciates Goble’s versatility, which he said is a key for a program that has just one level and 27 players, with freshmen and sophomores playing bigger roles.
Through it all, Chicago Christian is in position to make the playoffs. If the Knights win Friday, they are in. If they lose, they will have a minimum of 37 playoff points, possibly 40 or more, so they will likely get in.
Still, the Knights would like to be sure after the Aurora Christian game.
“This season been on and off, but we really want to go to the playoffs,” Goble said. “If we didn’t lose a single game, there would be no fight. I kind of like the pressure of having to win the last game to get into the playoffs. I enjoy that.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.