Not Just a Cameo for Raphael

Elijah Raphael, an actor and choir singer, wasn’t sure the show would go on.

The year was 1994, a time when football was his only stage, and Raphael was coming off a disappointing second year on the Washington State football team.

“I had set so many goals, and everything was going in a downward spiral,” Raphael said. “I wasn’t playing, I wasn’t happy. I wasn’t having any fun.”

Fast forward to the present and Raphael, 23, is back where he wants to be. Center stage.

He is the main back for Azusa Pacific (0-2), which plays Cal State Northridge on Saturday night at 6:05 at North Campus Stadium.

Raphael signed with Washington State after leading the Valley region with 2,070 yards rushing and 180 points as a senior at Kennedy High in 1991.

After redshirting the 1992 season for the Cougars, he saw limited playing time in Washington State’s first seven games of ‘93, carrying 18 times for 56 yards and catching three passes for 18 yards. He didn’t play at all in the last four games.

“It was such a big blow to me not to start,” Raphael said. “It was just, ‘If I can’t start, then I don’t want to be here.’ I was kind of moping at practice and making myself get down about things. . . .

“My big thing was, football was all there was for me. It was all I cared about at the time.”

After sitting out the 1994 season, the 5-foot-8, 190-pound Raphael resurfaced at Valley College the following year.

It was like he never missed a step.

Raphael rushed for 803 yards, made 10 receptions for 156 yards and scored 17 touchdowns, helping the Monarchs to an 11-1 record.

Had he transferred to an NCAA school, Raphael would have had only one more season of eligibility. So he chose the NAIA route and enrolled at Azusa Pacific, where last season he rushed for 1,326 yards, the third-highest total in school history.

“I’ve gotten everything that I wanted and then some from being here,” Raphael said. “I’m older, wiser now. I got invaluable experience at WSU, and I took everything positive from there. I’m thankful for all my experiences now, even the bad ones. I’ve learned a lot of things about myself.”

Raphael had 92 yards in 21 carries in Azusa Pacific’s opener against San Diego but didn’t play against Hardin-Simmons because of a sprained knee.

Northridge’s Jim Fenwick, who coached Raphael at Valley, knows what to expect.

“He’s phenomenal,” Fenwick said. “With Azusa Pacific, it’s Elijah left and Elijah right.”

Which is quite all right with Raphael, who always enjoyed starring roles anyway.

At Hamilton High, before he transferred to Kennedy, Raphael dabbled in music and the theater.

He still has an interest in acting and he sings on his church choir. But that is on the back burner now.

“I love playing football,” Raphael said. “The only place for me to perform right now is on the football field.”

And so the show goes on.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Northridge (1-2) vs. Azusa Pacific (0-2)

* When: 6:05 p.m., Saturday

* Where: North Campus Stadium

* Fast fact: The Cougars play at the NAIA level and lost their first two games, to UC San Diego, 25-15, and to Hardin Simmons, 28-21.