Logo

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: 2/28/22

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

February 28, 2022

1. WRESTLING Davison, Lowell, Dundee and Hudson were this season’s Team Wrestling Finals champions, Lowell extending its record streak to nine and Dundee and Davison also repeating – Second Half

2. COMPETITIVE CHEER Richmond was first and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep second in a Division 3 Regional featuring teams that have combined to win the last 10 Finals championships – Macomb Daily

3. BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING Battle Creek Harper Creek – an honorable mention in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – claimed its first league title in this sport since 1989, in the Southwestern & Central Conference; additionally, Battle Creek Lakeview won the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference title – Battle Creek Enquirer

4. COMPETITIVE CHEER Allen Park and Gibraltar Carlson have combined to win the last 14 Division 2 Finals, and they finished first and second, respectively, at their Regional on Saturday – Southgate News-Herald

5. HOCKEY Division 3 No. 7 Calumet edged No. 4 Houghton 3-2 in overtime of a Regional Final – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

6. COMPETITIVE CHEER Two-time reigning Finals champion Rochester Adams won its third-straight Division 1 Regional title competing with a field that included Rochester and Stoney Creek – Southgate News-Herald

7. BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD3 No. 4 Pinckney edged Chelsea 552-522 to win the Southeastern Conference White championship meet – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

8. BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, Farmington and Lake Orion won Oakland Activities Association championships, and LPD1 honorable mention South Lyon finished a run to the Lakes Valley Conference title – Oakland Press

9. BOYS BASKETBALL Rudyard clinched the Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference title and EJ Suggitt became his school’s all-time leading scorer during a win over Pickford – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

10. BOWLING The top-ranked New Boston Huron boys and No. 7 South Lyon East girls claimed Division 2 Regional titles – Monroe News

Also of note …

BOYS BASKETBALL Benzie Central clinched its first Northwest Conference title in a decade with a 58-45 win over Maple City Glen Lake – Traverse City Record-Eagle

GIRLS BASKETBALL Bay City All Saints earned a share of the North Central Thumb League Stripes title with a win over Caseville – Bay City Times

GIRLS BASKETBALL Coleman’s Katelyn Pnacek became her school’s all-time leading scorer during a 63-50 win over Vestaburg – Midland Daily News

BOYS BASKETBALL Flint Carman-Ainsworth’s Mehki Ellison eclipsed 1,000 career points in his team’s 62-53 win over Mount Pleasant – Mid-Michigan Now

BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING Lake Fenton was first and Corunna second at the Flint Metro League championship meet – Owosso Argus-Press