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: 1/13/23

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

January 13, 2023

1. GIRLS BASKETBALL Zoie Bamm became the school’s leading scorer, girls or boys, with 25 more points in Brooklyn Columbia Central’s 57-39 win over Hillsdale – Jackson Citizen Patriot

2. GIRLS BASKETBALL Traverse City Central broke Maple City Glen Lake’s 44-game regular-season winning streak with a 41-29 defeat – Traverse City Record-Eagle

3. BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING Top-ranked East Grand Rapids defeated No. 6 Spring Lake 106-67 in a matchup of top teams in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – Local Sports Journal

4. GIRLS BASKETBALL Blissfield doubled up Hudson in a matchup of top Division 3 teams statewide – Adrian Daily Telegram

5. GIRLS BASKETBALL Watevliet handed Bridgman its first loss of the season, 38-32 – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

6. BOYS BASKETBALL Hart won a matchup of undefeated teams, 71-50 over Mason County Central – CatchMark SportsNet

7. BOYS BASKETBALL Cadillac earned a key Big North Conference victory, 68-65 over Petoskey in overtime – Cadillac News

8. BOYS BASKETBALL Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice downed Detroit Catholic Central 67-52 – Oakland Press

9. BOYS BASKETBALL Center Line won a matchup for first place in the Macomb Area Conference Silver, 61-39 over Clinton Township Clintondale – Macomb Daily

10. BOYS BASKETBALL Madison Heights Madison came back from an early 12-point deficit to defeat Port Huron 64-57 – Oakland Press

Also of note …

BAY CITY WESTERN Longtime athletic director Mike Thayer, an MHSAA Allen W. Bush Award winner in 2021, is retiring tonight – Bay City Times