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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: 9/25/23

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 25, 2023

1. CROSS COUNTRY The Lower Peninsula Division 1 No. 3 Romeo, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard and LPD3 No. 2 Jackson Lumen Christi girls and LPD1 No. 9 Ann Arbor Pioneer, LPD2 No. 7 Adrian and LPD4 No. 3 Hillsdale Academy boys won races at the annual Jackson Invitational – Athletic.net

2. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD1 No. 8 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central and LPD2 No. 1 Grand Rapids Christian girls and Holland West Ottawa and LPD2 No. 2 Grand Rapids Christian boys were among champions at the Grand Rapids South Christian Cougar Falcon Invitational – Athletic.net

3. VOLLEYBALL Cadillac defeated Division 2 No. 8 Three Rivers to win the latter’s invitational, and Division 3 No. 7 Lake City downed Beal City to clinch at Kalkaska – Cadillac News

4. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Wyandotte Roosevelt repeated as Downriver Classic champion – Southgate News-Herald

5. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Midland Dow nearly doubled up the runner-up in winning the Tri Cities Championship – Midland Daily News

6. CROSS COUNTRY Traverse City West swept Gold championships, and the LPD3 No. 3 Elk Rapids girls and No. 5 Clare boys won Blue races at the Cadillac Veterans Serving Veterans Invitational; West’s girls are No. 9 in LPD1 – Traverse City Record-Eagle | Athletic.net

7. BOYS TENNIS LPD4 No. 4 Ludington won six flights in claiming the overall Allegan Invitational title – Ludington Daily News

8. VOLLEYBALL Izzy Whittaker went over 1,000 career kills for Division 1 honorable mention Grand Haven as her team defeated Lake Orion and honorable mention Lowell and fell to No. 9 Bloomfield Hills Marian in five sets – Local Sports Journal

9. CROSS COUNTRY Bay City Western swept championships and the LPD4 No. 9 Breckenridge girls and LPD3 No. 12 St. Louis boys also were victorious at the Kayner Delta Invitational; Western’s boys are an honorable mention in LPD1 – Saginaw News | Athletic.net

10. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD1 No. 2 Brighton, Dearborn Divine Child and Allen Park Cabrini girls and LPD1 No. 4 Canton, AAFGR and Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central boys won Monroe Jefferson Invitational races – Monroe News | Athletic.net