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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:

Clarkston libero Kiley Gallagher awaits an approaching hit during her team's Regional Semifinal win over Hartland last week.

Quarterfinals Begin Championship Week for Volleyball's 32 Contenders

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

November 14, 2023

The final week of the 2023 girls volleyball season begins this evening with 16 MHSAA Quarterfinals across the state.

Winners in Divisions 2 and 3 will advance to Semifinals on Thursday at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena, with winners in Divisions 1 and 4 playing Semifinals on Friday. All four championship matches will be played Saturday at Kellogg.

All 16 matches, with start times and locations, are listed below. Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased on GoFan. All 16 matches will be broadcast as well on MHSAA.tv and viewable with subscription; those individual broadcasts are linked below. Brackets and more are posted to the Volleyball page.

DIVISION 1

Grand Haven vs. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern at Hudsonville, 6 p.m. – WATCH
Portage Northern vs. Northville at Ypsilanti Lincoln, 7 p.m. – WATCH
Macomb L’Anse Creuse North vs. Clarkston at St. Clair County Community College, 7:30 p.m. – WATCH
Farmington Hills Mercy vs. Bloomfield Hills Marian at Dearborn, 7 p.m. – WATCH

DIVISION 2

Milan vs. Dearborn Divine Child at Chelsea, 7 p.m. – WATCH
Ludington vs. Grand Rapids West Catholic at Fremont, 7 p.m. – WATCH
North Branch vs. Frankenmuth at St. Clair County Community College, 5:30 p.m. – WATCH
Grand Rapids Christian vs. Edwardsburg at Charlotte, 6 p.m. – WATCH

DIVISION 3

Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central vs. Plymouth Christian Academy at Ypsilanti Lincoln, 5:30 p.m. – WATCH
Pewamo-Westphalia vs. Kalamazoo Christian at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, 7 p.m. – WATCH
Cass City vs. Saginaw Valley Lutheran at New Lothrop, 6 p.m. – WATCH
Calumet vs. Traverse City St. Francis at Sault Ste. Marie, 6 p.m. – WATCH

DIVISION 4

St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake Catholic vs. Adrian Lenawee Christian at Portage Central, 6:30 p.m. – WATCH
Clarkston Everest Collegiate vs. Marlette at Fenton, 7 p.m. – WATCH
Leland vs. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart at Ferris State University, 6 p.m. – WATCH
Crystal Falls Forest Park vs. Newberry at Manistique, 7 p.m. – WATCH

PHOTO Clarkston libero Kiley Gallagher awaits an approaching hit during her team's Regional Semifinal win over Hartland last week. (Photo by Terry Lyons.)