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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: 6/14/21

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

June 14, 2021

1. Softball: The Division 3 Regional Final between top-ranked Millington and No. 2 Richmond went nine innings, with Richmond winning 2-1 – Macomb Daily

2. Softball: No. 5 Owosso won its first Regional title scoring five runs in the 10th inning to get past Lake Odessa Lakewood in Division 2 – Owosso Argus-Press

3. Baseball: No. 2 Portage Central earned its first Semifinal berth since 2011 with wins over Detroit Catholic Central and top-ranked Grand Ledge in Division 1 – Kalamazoo Gazette

4. Softball: Charlevoix and Traverse City West won their first Regional championships – unranked Charlevoix handing No. 8 Negaunee its lone loss of the season and also downing Kalkaska in Division 3, and honorable mention West defeating honorable mention Midland and Fenton in Division 1 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

5. Softball: No. 4 Gaylord got past No. 7 Escanaba 6-5 and then Big Rapids 12-2 to claim a Division 2 Regional title – Petoskey News-Review

6. Girls Soccer: No. 4 Boyne City repeated as a Regional champion with a 2-1 win over No. 9 Big Rapids in Division 3 – MI Sports Now

7. Softball: Honorable mention South Lyon downed No. 3 Hartland 9-3 and then Ypsilanti Lincoln 12-1 to win a Division 1 Regional title – Oakland Press

8. Baseball: Unranked Midland Dow defeated Zeeland West in eight innings and then rallied in the seventh to get past No. 9 Hudsonville in a Division 1 Quarterfinal – Midland Daily News

9. Softball: No. 10 Hudsonville Unity Christian downed No. 2 Muskegon Oakridge 4-3 before getting past Grand Rapids South Christian 13-2 in a Division 2 Regional – Grand Rapids Press

10. Softball: No. 9 Macomb Dakota got past No. 7 New Baltimore Anchor Bay and Utica to advance to a Division 1 Quarterfinal – Macomb Daily

Also of note …

Girls Soccer: Top-ranked Grandville Calvin Christian continued its undefeated season with a 2-0 Division 4 Regional Final win over No. 11 Kalamazoo Christian – WWMT

Softball: Shepherd put up seven runs in the eighth inning to clinch a Division 3 Regional title with a 19-18 win over Laingsburg – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Track & Field: Traverse City Central coach John Lober is retiring after 52 years – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Baseball: Reese’s Dave Elliott also announced his retirement from coaching, after 42 years – Saginaw News