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: 2/14/22

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

February 14, 2022

1. COMPETITIVE CHEER Rochester Adams won the prestigious Delta Plex Invitational for the first time – Rochester Adams Cheer

2. BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING Pinckney’s Tyler Ray won two individual events and Holland West Ottawa won two relays at the annual MISCA Meet – MISCA

3. BOYS BASKETBALL Division 1 No. 3 Detroit U-D Jesuit clinched the Detroit Catholic League Central title with a 65-43 win over No. 5 Detroit Catholic Central – State Champs!

4. BOYS BASKETBALL Division 4 No. 8 Hillman clinched a share of the North Star League’s Little Dipper championship with a 52-47 win over Posen – Alpena News

5. GYMNASTICS Grand Ledge scored 142.375 to win Coldwater’s “Stick It for a Cure” Invitational – Coldwater Daily Reporter

6. WRESTLING Division 1 No. 3 Hartland qualified all 14 wrestlers for Regionals and had 12 champions at the Birmingham Groves Division 1 District – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

7. HOCKEY Division 3 No. 6 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood posted an impressive 4-2 win over Division 2 No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice – Observer & Eccentric

8. WRESTLING Petoskey’s Trevor Swiss finished a highlight-filled week with his third individual District championship, in Division 2 – Petoskey News-Review

9. WRESTLING Division 1 No. 4 Macomb Dakota had five champions among Regional qualifiers from the Division 1 District at Rochester – Macomb Daily

10. WRESTLING Top-ranked Hudson had nine champions among 13 who advanced from the Division 4 District on their home mats – Adrian Daily Telegram