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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: 6/8/26

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

June 8, 2026

1. BOYS VOLLEYBALL Grand Haven in Division 1 and Lowell in Division 2 clinched the inaugural MHSAA Finals championships – MHSAA.com

2. GIRLS LACROSSE Rockford won Division 1 by handing South Lyon United its only loss, and Detroit Country Day edged East Grand Rapids by a goal in Division 2 – MHSAA.com

3. BOYS GOLF Charlevoix and Grand Rapids West Catholic won their first Finals titles, while Detroit Catholic Central and Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood extended streaks – MHSAA.com

4. GIRLS TENNIS Country Day entered the second day tied for first but pulled away for the Lower Peninsula Division 3 title – MHSAA.com

5. BOYS LACROSSE Detroit Catholic Central and Detroit Country Day won titles after finishing Finals runners-up the previous season – MHSAA.com

6. SOFTBALL Lorelei Chciuk threw a no-hitter to lead No. 6 Grand Haven past top-ranked Hudsonville in Division 1 and to its first Regional title in this sport – Grand Haven Tribune

7. GIRLS SOCCER Top-ranked Hudsonville Unity Christian downed No. 2 Richland Gull Lake 3-0 in a Division 2 Regional Final – Kalamazoo Gazette

8. SOFTBALL Boyne City is a first-time Regional champion thanks to a 5-4, 12-inning win over honorable mention Gladstone in Division 3 – Petoskey News-Review

9. BASEBALL No. 2 Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart earned its first trip to the Semifinals since 1997 with wins over No. 5 Fulton in a Division 4 Regional Final and top-ranked Portland St. Patrick in a Quarterfinal – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

10. SOFTBALL No. 5 Traverse City Central claimed its first Regional title with a 1-0 win over No. 8 Grand Blanc in Division 1 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Also of note …

SOFTBALL Norway claimed its first Regional title in this sport with wins over Eben Junction Superior Central and Hancock in Division 4 – Upper Michigan’s Source

BASEBALL Millington claimed its first Regional title in this sport, defeating No. 7 Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett in Division 3 before falling to No. 16 Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest in a Quarterfinal – Saginaw News