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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: 5/11/21

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 11, 2021

1. Boys Lacrosse: Hartland’s Bo Lockwood set the single-game assist record with 13, upped his single-season assist record to 97 and tied the single-game points record with 19 in the Division 1 No. 3 Eagles’ 28-0 win over Howell – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

2. Girls Track & Field: Remus Chippewa Hills secured an 18th-straight league title with another win in the Central State Activities Association Gold – Big Rapids News

3. Boys Golf: Individual medalist Daniel Gladki paced Saginaw Heritage to a Saginaw County Invitational championship – Saginaw News

4. Boys Lacrosse: Midland downed Grand Blanc 15-3 to clinch a share of its sixth Saginaw Valley League championship in seven seasons – WJRT

5. Boys Lacrosse: Division 1 No. 4 Saline downed Ann Arbor Huron 25-3 to finish a perfect run through the Southeastern Conference Red – Saline Post

6. Girls Soccer: Division 2 No. 6 Spring Lake scored the lone goal to down Division 1 No. 14 Muskegon Mona Shores 1-0 – Local Sports Journal

7. Baseball: No. 5 Johannesburg-Lewiston swept No. 20 Gaylord St. Mary in a league matchup of top statewide Division 4 teams – MI Sports Now

8. Girls Soccer: Division 1 No. 20 Midland Dow defeated Midland High for the first time in seven years, 2-0 – Midland Daily News

9. Softball: Norway improved to 13-2 by handing Rapid River its second and third losses this spring, 10-9 and 13-12 – Iron Mountain Daily News

10. Boys Lacrosse: Bowen Sparks scored eight goals for Walled Lake United in its 15-3 win over Huron Valley United – Oakland Press

Also for note:

Track & Field: From Saturday, Ann Arbor Skyline’s Hobbs Kessler (8:54.42) led five runners under nine minutes in the 3,200 at the New Balance Invitational at Farmington – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

Volleyball: After leading Schoolcraft to Division 3 runner-up finishes the last two seasons, coach Erin Onken is taking over at Portage Northern – Kalamazoo Gazette

Girls Basketball: Former Lake Michigan College women’s coach Patrick Daniel is bringing winning experience at that level in taking over Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills – FOX 17