Logo

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: 10/2/23

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

October 2, 2023

1. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Holland Christian – No. 5 in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – edged Allegan by nine points to win the D3 Invitational – Holland Sentinel

2. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD1 top-ranked Romeo girls and LPD2 No. 2 Ada Forest Hills Eastern boys won the Elite championships at the Shepherd BlueJay Invitational, and Freeland’s TJ Hansen broke 15 minutes – Midland Daily News | Cadillac News | Athletic.net

3. BOYS TENNIS Muskegon Mona Shores won its fifth-straight Greater Muskegon Athletic Association team title, and senior Drew Hackney won his fourth at No. 1 singles – Local Sports Journal

4. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD2 No. 5 St. Joseph girls and LPD3 No. 13 Buchanan boys won Berrien County championships, and Niles’ Aiden Krueger set a school record – Niles Daily Star | Athletic.net

5. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD3 No. 3 Milan followed Annabelle Williams to the Monroe County championship – Monroe News

6. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD2 top-ranked Farmington Hills Mercy regained the Oakland County championship with a dominating performance – Oakland Press

7. GIRLS GOLF LPD3 No. 10 Ludington carded a 361 to win the West Michigan Conference Tournament – Ludington Daily News

8. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Macomb Dakota outpaced the field by 82 points to win the Macomb County championship – Macomb Daily

9. VOLLEYBALL Charlevoix defeated Division 4 No. 7 Onaway in three sets after losing the first to clinch the Onaway Invitational title – Cheboygan Daily Tribune

10. CROSS COUNTRY Jackson Lumen Christi swept Division 3-4 titles, and the host DeWitt girls and Howell boys also won at the DeWitt Invitational, the Highlanders claiming their first invite win since 2007. Lumen Christi’s girls are No. 1 in LPD3 and DeWitt’s girls are No. 10 in LPD2, while Lumen Christi’s boys are No. 10 in LPD3 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus | Athletic.net