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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: 1/9/23

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

January 9, 2023

1. GIRLS BASKETBALL Sandusky downed Unionville-Sebewaing 42-28 as Sandusky coach Al DeMott became the state’s all-time winningest in girls basketball with 798 victories – Port Huron Times Herald

2.  WRESTLING Division 3 top-ranked Dundee led the way with three champions and five runners-up at the prestigious Detroit Catholic Central Invitational – Michigan Grappler

3. HOCKEY Division 3 No. 1 Houghton defeated Division 1 No. 3 Brighton 6-0 and followed up with a 9-1 win over Novi – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

4. COMPETITIVE CHEER Allen Park was first in Division 2 and overall against top competition at its annual invitational – Southgate News-Herald

5. BOYS BASKETBALL Reigning Division 1 champion Warren De La Salle Collegiate edged Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice 38-34 – Detroit News

6. WRESTLING Dundee also was first, Division 4 No. 2 New Lothrop second and No. 4 Bronson third at New Lothrop’s Hall of Fame Tournament – Coldwater Daily Reporter

7. BOWLING Onsted’s Sydney Nichols won her third Lenawee County individual championship and Tecumseh’s Owen Williams won his second – Adrian Daily Telegram

8. BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING Grand Rapids Northview – No. 7 in Lower Peninsula Division 2 – was first and LPD3 No. 6 Spring Lake second at Spring Lake’s invitational – Ludington Daily News

9. WRESTLING Division 3 No. 4 Richmond downed No. 8 Yale 42-22 during the first weekend of Blue Water Area Conference competition – The Sports Report

10. WRESTLING Benzie Central won the 50th Escanaba Elks Tournament, finishing first with Division 4 No. 5 Iron Mountain second and Division 3 No. 10 Gladstone fourth – Benzie Record Patriot

Also of note …

GIRLS BASKETBALL Ithaca’s Delaney Seaman went over 1,000 career points in her team’s win over Carrollton – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

BOYS BASKETBALL R.J. Taylor went over 1,000 career points as Grand Blanc downed East Lansing 65-51 at its Charlie Carmody Classic – Flint Journal 

GIRLS BASKETBALL Bellaire downed Fife Lake Forest Area led by Jacey Sommers, who scored 27 points including the 1,000th of her career – Traverse City Record-Eagle