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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

Today in the MHSAA: 5/11/26

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 11, 2026

1. TRACK & FIELD The Petersburg Summerfield girls – ranked No. 2 in Lower Peninsula Division 4 – won their first Tri-County Conference title since 1990, while Erie Mason was the boys champion – Monroe News

2. GIRLS TENNIS Sturgis clinched its first league title in this sport since 2003, in the Wolverine Conference – Sturgis Journal

3. TRACK & FIELD The Ann Arbor Pioneer girls and Huron boys continued championship streaks in the Southeastern Conference Red – Ann Arbor News Girls | Boys

4. GIRLS TENNIS LPD1 No. 4 Holland West Ottawa ran its Ottawa-Kent Conference Red title streak to nine – Holland Sentinel

5. GIRLS TENNIS North Muskegon edged Ludington by a point to secure the West Michigan Conference championship – Local Sports Journal

6. GIRLS SOCCER Division 3 No. 11 Almont downed Richmond to win the Blue Water Area Conference Tournament title – Macomb Daily

7. GIRLS SOCCER Division 2 No. 2 Richland Gull Lake emerged as the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference champion with a 1-1 draw against Division 1 No. 4 Portage Central – WWMT

8. TRACK & FIELD The LPD1 No. 7 Traverse City West girls and Traverse City Central boys locked up Big North Conference titles – Traverse City Record-Eagle

9. TRACK & FIELD The O-K Conference championships were decided, with the LPD1 No. 2 East Kentwood girls getting past top-ranked Rockford and the top-ranked Falcons boys scoring the most points in that meet since 2010 – Grand Rapids Press Girls | Boys

10. GIRLS TENNIS LPD3 No. 7 Holland Christian edged Zeeland West to win the O-K Black Tournament – Holland Christian

Also of note …

TRACK & FIELD The LPD3 No. 5 Adrian Madison boys and No. 6 Blissfield girls are champions in the Lenawee County Athletic Association – Adrian Daily Telegram Girls | Boys

TRACK & FIELD The Saginaw Heritage boys and Bay City Western girls were Saginaw Valley League champs – Saginaw News

TRACK & FIELD Northville swept Kensington Lakes Activities Association meet title – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

BOYS GOLF Gavin Sherby carded a record-setting 60 to lead New Baltimore Anchor Bay to an Opalewski Invitational title – Macomb Daily