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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: 3/2/22

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

March 2, 2022

1. HOCKEY All seven goals were scored during the third period as No. 4 Grandville claimed a Division 1 Regional title with a 5-2 win over Grand Rapids Christian – Grand Rapids Press

2. BOYS BASKETBALL Hartland secured its first Kensington Lakes Activities Association Tournament title since 2009 with a 42-39 win over Division 1 No. 11 Canton – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

3. BOYS BASKETBALL Division 2 No. 9 Williamston finished a perfect regular season and Mason Docks and Jay Wallace both went over 1,000 career points during a 59-55 win over Lansing Everett – Lansing State Journal

4. BOYS BASKETBALL Kalamazoo Central closed the regular season with a 51-46 win over Division 1 No. 9 Muskegon – Kalamazoo Gazette

5. BOYS BASKETBALL Waterford Mott finished an outright title run in the Lakes Valley Conference with a 55-45 win over White Lake Lakeland – Oakland Press

6. BOYS BASKETBALL Division 2 No. 11 Standish-Sterling clinched a share of the Tri-Valley Conference 10 title with a 60-20 win over Midland Bullock Creek – Bay City Times

7. BOYS BASKETBALL Grand Rapids Northview clinched the Ottawa-Kent Conference White title outright with a 59-55 win over Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central – FOX 17

8. BOYS BASKETBALL Tecumseh downed Chelsea 53-47 to create a shared Southeastern Conference White championship with the Bulldogs and Jackson – Adrian Daily Telegram

9. HOCKEY The Traverse Bay Reps clinched a Division 1 Regional title with a 7-0 win over Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills – Up North Live

10. BOYS BASKETBALL Division 1 No. 13 Grand Blanc earned another notable regular-season win, 80-62 over No. 16 River Rouge – Flint Journal

Also of note …

BOYS BASKETBALL Midland’s Drew Barrie scored his 1,000th career point during a 50-27 win over Bay City John Glenn – Midland Daily News

BOYS BASKETBALL Whitehall edged Shelby 43-39 to finish an outright title run in the West Michigan Conference – MuskegonSports.com

BOYS BASKETBALL Jonesville and Concord both won to create a shared Big 8 Conference title between the two – Jackson Citizen Patriot

FOOTBALL Cadillac coach Cody Mallory is leaving to take over at Spring Lake after leading the Vikings to a Division 4 runner-up finish in 2020 – Cadillac News