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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: 5/19/22

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 19, 2022

1. GIRLS SOCCER Division 2 No. 6 Richland Gull Lake defeated Division 1 No. 6 Portage Central 2-1 in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference championship game – WWMT

2. GIRLS SOCCER Division 1 No. 5 Midland Dow got past Grand Blanc 1-0 to clinch the Saginaw Valley League title – Midland Daily News

3. GIRLS SOCCER Division 2 No. 5 Plainwell finished an outright title run in the Wolverine Conference with a 3-1 victory over Division 3 No. 14 Otsego – FOX 17

4. GIRLS SOCCER Division 2 No. 10 South Lyon East earned its first Lakes Valley Conference Tournament championship with a 2-0 victory over Walled Lake Central – Oakland Press

5. GIRLS SOCCER Division 2 No. 13 Trenton finished an outright Downriver League title run with a 3-1 win over Brownstown Woodhaven – Southgate News-Herald

6. SOFTBALL/BASEBALL Fowlerville’s Tori Briggs tied an MHSAA record with four triples in a game against Lansing Eastern, and Brighton Charyl Stockwell pitcher Aidan Liedeke just missed making the record book with 20 strikeouts over eight innings in a win over Whitmore Lake – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

7. SOFTBALL Division 4 honorable mention Rogers City split with honorable mention Indian River Inland Lakes, delivering coach Karl Grambau his 500th career victory – MI Sports Now

8. GIRLS SOCCER Hamilton advanced in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Blue Tournament with a 2-1 win over Fruitport – Holland Sentinel

9. GIRLS SOCCER Division 3 No. 11 Big Rapids moved on to the Central State Activities Association Tournament title game with a big win over Fremont – Big Rapids Pioneer

10. SOFTBALL Cheboygan can clinch the Straits Area Conference title outright Friday after sweeping St. Ignace – Cheboygan Daily Tribune

Also of note …

BOYS BASKETBALL Williamston coach Tom Lewis has stepped down after leading the Hornets to this season’s Division 2 championship – Lansing State Journal