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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: 9/28/22

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 28, 2022

1. GIRLS GOLF Big Rapids finished an undefeated championship run in the Central State Activities Association – Big Rapids Pioneer

2. BOYS SOCCER Division 2 No. 3 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern will head into the Ottawa-Kent Conference White Tournament as the top seed after defeating No. 2 Forest Hills Central 2-1 – FOX 17

3. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 honorable mention Manton picked up a key Highland Conference win over Division 4 No. 10 McBain Northern Michigan Christian – Cadillac News

4. GIRLS GOLF Petoskey shot a 345 to edge Traverse City Central for the Cheboygan Invitational title – Cheboygan Daily Tribune

5. GIRLS GOLF LPD4 No. 8 Montague shot a 375 to win the Rocket Invitational, with Muskegon Mona Shores runner-up – Local Sports Journal

6. BOYS SOCCER Division 1 No. 15 Traverse City West remained undefeated in the Big North Conference with a 1-0 win over Petoskey – Traverse City Record-Eagle

7. VOLLEYBALL Clinton Township Chippewa Valley reached the midpoint of the Macomb Area Conference Blue season undefeated in league play thanks to a sweep of Port Huron Northern – Macomb Daily

8. BOYS SOCCER The first “Battle of the Big Boy” went to Division 2 No. 7 St. Joseph with its 3-1 win over Stevensville Lakeshore – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

9. GIRLS GOLF Sturgis won the final Wolverine Conference jamboree, clearing the field by 11 shots – Sturgis Journal

10. BOYS SOCCER Birmingham Groves maintained its lead in the Oakland Activities Association White with a win over North Farmington – Oakland Press

Also of note …

BASEBALL Chris Andrews, who led Portage Northern to the 2019 Division 1 championship, has resigned after 22 seasons – Kalamazoo Gazette

SAULT STE. MARIE Longtime sportswriter Rob Roos died Saturday after a battle with cancer; he was in his 24th year at The Sault News – Petoskey News-Review