High 5s: 11/28/12

November 28, 2012

The final MHSAA championships of the Fall 2012 season give us our final High 5s before heading into winter. This week, we recognize both an individual and a team that achieved new heights. 

Drake Harris
Grand Rapids Christian junior
Football

A 6-foot-4, 180-pound receiver who has committed to play both football and basketball at Michigan State beginning in 2014, Harris posted one of the finest receiving season in MHSAA history capped by playing a huge role in his team's first MHSAA championship. The Eagles beat Orchard Lake St. Mary's 40-37 in overtime Saturday for the Division 3 title. His eight catches for a Finals-record 243 yards and a touchdown put his unofficial season totals at 91 catches for 2,015 yards and 25 scores. Once confirmed, the season yardage will rank as the most in MHSAA history and 12th nationally for one season (his yards per game rank fourth and yards per catch sixth on the NFHS lists). Harris also ranked fourth for catches and second for touchdown catches on the MHSAA single-season lists.

Just ducky: "I'm probably more energized now after he hit that kick," Harris said after teammate Joel Schipper's winning field goal Saturday. "I was probably more tired a little bit during the game. But we condition all practice. We play fast. We play like Oregon, move the ball, (at) a high tempo. We're all in condition, so we really weren't that tired." 

Bring on the new guy: Harris has caught more than 3,000 yards worth of passes from senior Alex VanDeVusse over the last two seasons, but will play with a new quarterback in 2013. "I've been with Alex since sophomore year. I guess I have to start over and work hard all next season and hope to get back here."  

Be like Calvin: "Calvin Johnson, I want to be just like him when I get older. I know I'm a little skinny right now, but when I get to college, I know they'll put weight on me. I watch film on him all the time, watch him running routes. So I take my game after him. He's the best wide receiver in the NFL right now, probably one of the best wide receivers to play the game, in my opinion." 

Click to read more. 

Portland football

The Raiders, unranked despite entering the postseason 8-1, finished with their first MHSAA title won in their first trip to the Finals. Portland defeated Grand Rapids West Catholic 12-9 in the Division 5 championship game after knocking out 2011 champion Flint Powers Catholic in the Regional Final. For the playoffs, Portland outscored its five opponents 169-66 while holding three to nine or fewer points. In finishing 13-1 and setting a school record for wins, the Raiders beat nine playoff teams total including eventual Division 3 Semifinalist DeWitt. 

Click to read more. 

Previous 2012-13 honorees:

Today in the MHSAA: 11/11/24

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

November 11, 2024

1. VOLLEYBALL Bay City Western came back after losing the first set to defeat Saginaw Heritage in Division 1 and clinch its first District title in this sport since the final winter season in 2007 – Bay City Times

2. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Allen Park clinched the outright championship in the Downriver League with a victory at the conference meet – Southgate News-Herald

3. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Grosse Pointe South – No. 4 in Lower Peninsula Division 2 – in the Red, Fraser in the White, Clinton Township Chippewa Valley in the Blue, Utica Ford in the Gold and Warren Cousino in the Silver claimed Macomb Area Conference championship meet titles – Macomb Daily

4. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD1 No. 3 Northville cruised to the win at the Kensington Lakes Activities Association meet – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

5. VOLLEYBALL Hancock came back from two sets down to defeat Lake Linden-Hubbell in five in a Division 4 District Final – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

6. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD1 top-ranked Ann Arbor Pioneer won seven individual titles in claiming the Southeastern Conference Red meet championship – Ann Arbor News

7. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Traverse City Tritons claimed their fourth-straight Coastal Conference title – Traverse City Record-Eagle

8. VOLLEYBALL Honorable mention Essexville Garber downed honorable mention Freeland in four sets to earn a Division 2 District title – Bay City Times

9. VOLLEYBALL No. 6 Traverse City St. Francis claimed a Division 3 District Final sweep over No. 7 Elk Rapids – Traverse City Record-Eagle

10. GIRLS SWMMING & DIVING LPD3 No. 8 Chelsea claimed its fourth-straight SEC White championship – Chelsea Sun Times News

Also of note …

GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD2 No. 6 Midland Dow claimed another Saginaw Valley League meet championship – Midland Daily News

GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD1 No. 4 Rockford was first and No. 10 Grand Haven second at the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red meet – Grand Haven Tribune

GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Bay City John Glenn clinched the championship in the Independent Swim Conference – Bay City Times

GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD1 honorable mention Kalamazoo Loy Norrix won the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference meet title – Battle Creek Enquirer

GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD3 honorable mention Allegan edged Sturgis to win the Southwestern & Central Conference meet – Sturgis Journal

GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD3 No. 5 Hudsonville Unity Christian finished first in the O-K Lakeshore, and LPD2 No. 2 Jenison won the O-K White meet – Holland Sentinel