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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: 10/18/23

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

October 18, 2023

1. CROSS COUNTRY The Union City boys and Concord girls won Big 8 Conference championships, Union City clinching a title for the first time since 1976. Concord’s girls are ranked No. 13 in Lower Peninsula Division 4 – Coldwater Daily Reporter Girls | Boys

2. BOYS SOCCER No. 3 Troy Athens shook up Division 1 with a 5-2 win over top-ranked Berkley in a District Semifinal – MLIVE-Detroit

3. VOLLEYBALL Division 4 No. 4 Leland edged Kingsley in five sets to claim the Northwest Conference title – MI Sports Now

4. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 No. 5 Traverse City St. Francis swept Elk Rapids to claim a 10th Lake Michigan Conference title over the last 12 seasons – Traverse City Record-Eagle

5. VOLLEYBALL Johannesburg-Lewiston and Indian River Inland Lakes won matches to clinch a shared Ski Valley Conference championship – Petoskey News-Review | Cheboygan Daily Tribune

6. CROSS COUNTRY Hart swept championship races in the West Michigan Conference Rivers; Hart’s girls are No. 8 in LPD3, and the boys are No. 9 – Ludington Daily News

7. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD3 No. 6 Central Montcalm girls and No. 5 Reed City boys clinched Central State Activities Association championships – Big Rapids Pioneer Girls | Boys

8. CROSS COUNTRY Ludington also swept championship races, in the WMC Lakes; Ludington’s girls are No. 13 in LPD2 – Ludington Daily News

9. CROSS COUNTRY The McBain girls and LeRoy Pine River boys finished outright title runs through the Highland Conference – Cadillac News

10. BOYS SOCCER Liam Hasson entered No. 14 Brighton’s Division 1 District Semifinal against Holt with one goal this season and left it with four for the fall as the Bulldogs won 4-0 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus