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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: 1/25/23

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

January 25, 2023

1. GIRLS BASKETBALL Farmington Hills Mercy pulled away in overtime for a 79-70 win over Dearborn Divine Child – Oakland Press

2. BOYS BASKETBALL Grand Rapids Catholic Central took over first alone in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold with a 71-67 win over Grand Rapids South Christian – Grand Rapids Press

3. BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING Zeeland – No. 7 in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – downed LPD3 No. 3 Holland Christian 111-74 – Holland Sentinel

4. GIRLS BASKETBALL Big Rapids won a matchup of league leaders in the Central State Activities Association, 46-37 over Kent City – Big Rapids Pioneer

5. BOYS BASKETBALL Kalamazoo Central dealt Mattawan its first loss this winter, 58-44 – WWMT

6. BOYS BASKETBALL Bridgeport won a matchup of leaders in the Tri-Valley Conference 10, 65-43 over Essexville Garber – WJRT

7. BOYS BASKETBALL Boyne City ended an 11-game losing streak against Traverse City St. Francis with a 50-44 victory – Petoskey News-Review

8. BOYS BASKETBALL Mason handed Ionia its first loss, 60-44, in a matchup of league leaders – Lansing State Journal

9. BOYS BASKETBALL Ludington remained undefeated with a 76-74 overtime win at Traverse City Central – Ludington Daily News

10. BOYS BASKETBALL Detroit Cass Tech moved to 13-0 with a 112-83 win over Detroit Renaissance – Detroit News

Also of note …

GIRLS BASKETBALL Megan McCalla also went over 1,000 points as Chelsea defeated Tecumseh 70-54 – Ann Arbor News

GIRLS BASKETBALL Natalie Wandrie went over 1,000 points as Indian River Inland Lakes edged Johannesburg-Lewiston 55-51 – Cheboygan Daily Tribune

GIRLS BASKETBALL Victoria Gray grabbed a school-record 30 rebounds in Temperance Bedford’s big win over Ypsilanti Lincoln – Monroe News

BOYS BASKETBALL Merritt Alderink set a school record with 42 points as Zeeland West got past Wyoming – Holland Sentinel