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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:

Track & Field Finals Lead Off Spring Championship Streaming

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

June 2, 2021

Live streaming video of the MHSAA Track & Field Finals on Saturday, June 5, will kick off three straight weekends of MHSAA Spring Championships action on the NFHS Network and MHSAA.tv.

Track action begins at 10 a.m. (EDT) on Saturday at Lower Peninsula sites in the greater Grand Rapids area at East Kentwood (Div. 1), Zeeland (Div. 2), Jenison (Div. 3) and Hudsonville (Div. 4); as well as at the Upper Peninsula Finals in Kingsford. All of the action can be viewed by purchasing a Month Pass for just $10.99. Here’s the complete schedule:

Lower Peninsula Finals (All times EDT) 

► 10 a.m. – 3,200-Meter Relay Final; other Running Preliminaries (100-Meter Dash, 100 & 110-Meter Hurdles, 200-Meter Dash)

► 1 p.m. – Running Finals (100 & 110 Hurdles, 100 Dash, 800 Relay, 1,600 Run, 400 Relay, 300 Hurdles, 800 Run, 200 Dash, 3,200 Run, 1,600 Relay)

Upper Peninsula Finals (All event times approximate & EDT) 

► 10 a.m. – 3,200 Relay
► 11:40 a.m. – 100 & 110 Hurdles
► 12:00 p.m.  – 100 Dash
► 12:30 p.m. – 800 Relay
► 1 p.m. – 1,600 Run
► 1:30 p.m. – 400 Relay
► 1:55 p.m. – 400 Dash
► 2:25 p.m. – 300 Hurdles
► 2:55 p.m. – 800 Run
► 3:30 p.m. – 200 Dash
► 4 p.m. – 3,200 Run
► 4:45 p.m. – 1,600 Relay

Field events will not be shown, and awards presentations in all events will be shown when not in conflict with running events taking place at the same time.

Click the following links to watch:

LPD1 | LPD2 | LPD3 | LPD4 | UP (all)

Over the following weekends, MHSAA Finals in Boys and Girls Lacrosse (June 12), Girls Soccer (June 18-19) and Semifinals and Finals in Baseball and Softball (June 17-19) will be streamed live. All events will be archived for on-demand viewing after their completion.

The Lacrosse, Baseball/Softball and Girls Soccer events also will have live streaming audio on the MHSAA Network.

The coming two weeks also will feature pre-Finals games produced by MHSAA members participating in the School Broadcast Program. Today (June 2) features 10 Lacrosse Regional games on the broadcast schedule; click for listings: GIRLS | BOYS

Now in its 13th year, the School Broadcast Program gives members an opportunity to showcase excellence in their schools by creating video programming of athletic and non-athletic events with students gaining skills in announcing, camera operation, directing/producing and graphics. Pixellot – the NFHS Network’s automated streaming solution – is used by schools wishing to live stream games but lacking the ability to staff the events. The program also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.

NFHS Network subscriptions begin at $10.99 per month. Subscribers will have access to all live video and on-demand video from across the country. School Broadcast Program participants benefit as a portion of every subscription sold by a school goes to benefit its program. (Subscriptions must be cancelled before the 30-day period is over to avoid recurring charges.)