On solid footing

When Nicolas Cage caught a glimpse of what his future could have been in “The Family Man,” his outlook on life changed as he realized that family was more important to him than his job.

It’s evident talking with Raul Vijil that he already knows what his priorities are – family, friends and football.

“Family is No. 1 on my list,” the Spokane Shock receiver said. “I come from a huge family – my mom and dad are both from a family of 13 – and I grew up around all my cousins and my brother and sister – I’m definitely a family guy.”

The 24-year-old Pasco native, one of the Shock’s seven returning players from last season’s af2 championship team, includes his girlfriend of three years – former Eastern Washington University volleyball player Sara Reilly – and his friendships with teammates such as Rob Keefe on that list as well.

“Rob and I are real close,” said Vijil, who also lives with Keefe. “We just kind of clicked on and off the field and he’s definitely one of my better friends.”

Vijil asserts that his family is the one thing that always will be there.

“You never really know where all this football stuff will go,” Vijil said. “But you always have family.”

His parents, who still live in the Tri-Cities area, made it down to Puerto Rico for last year’s ArenaCup and are Shock season-ticket holders this season.

“It’s awesome – being not too far from home it’s something I look forward to every weekend,” Vijil said. “A lot of the guys from the East Coast don’t get to see their family and I get to see mine every home game at least, it’s just really important.”

For now, though, Vijil is first a football player.

A 4A all-state receiver and punt returner at Pasco High, Vijil went on to play under Paul Wulff at EWU. Former Shock coach Chris Siegfried recruited Vijil to try out for the 2006 expansion team, and Vijil decided to come back for another year.

“I was still doing the school thing,” Vijil said. “I didn’t get too many calls (from AFL teams) and I still have two quarters left at Eastern, so it’s worked out nice that I can still play and be close to where I go to school.”

Vijil is leading the league in receptions with 30 (two more than teammate Antwone Savage) and receiving yards per game (118.7). He is taking this quarter off from school, and has two quarters remaining in his graphic design program.

School is important to him, Vijil said, but he would like to take the dream of professional football as far as he can.

“I will pursue the football thing as long as my body is able and willing,” Vijil said. “I want to try to get to the next level. I really love the game of arena football and I hope to get to do it next year and the year after.”

While he admits the idea of playing in the NFL would be the ultimate dream, Vijil is committed to the game of arena football.

“I’m focused on the arena game and getting into (the AFL),” Vijil said. “It’s kind of a play-it-by-ear deal. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to play in the NFL, too, but the highest level possible is ideal.”

Slightly in the shadow of Savage, who is tied for first in the league with nine touchdowns, Vijil has done what new Shock coach Adam Shackleford expects of him – catch the ball when it comes his way. That has led Vijil into the end zone five times.

“A lot of teams are trying to take away our biggest threat (Antwone),” Shackleford said. “As the game goes on, (Raul) becomes our first option because they focus more on (Savage).

“Offensively, we are getting better every day – and (Raul) is a big part of that.”