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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: 5/10/21

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 10, 2021

1. Baseball: Blissfield swept Belleville, giving Royals coach Larry Tuttle his 1,315th win to tie him for most in MHSAA history – Toledo Blade

2. Track & Field: St. Louis’ girls – ranked No. 1 in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – continued their strong spring with a Shepherd Invitational championship – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

3. Softball: Division 4 top-ranked Holton swept White Cloud, with Ryann Robins striking out 21 for the Red Devils in the first game to tie for third-most Ks in a seven-inning game in MHSAA history – Local Sports Journal

4. Softball: Division 3 top-ranked Millington held on for a 7-5 Mother’s Day win over Division 2 No. 4 Escanaba – Escanaba Daily Press

5. Track & Field: The Onsted girls (LPD3 No. 2) and Adrian Madison boys (No. 5) won Wildcat Boosters Invitational championships, Onsted two points ahead of the LPD4 top-ranked Hillsdale Academy girls – Adrian Daily Telegram

6. Boys Golf: Traverse City Central – No 8 in LPD1 – shot a 320 to win the Big North Conference Invitational by eight strokes – Traverse City Record-Eagle

7. Track & Field: Corunna swept the small-school championships at its Cavalier Classic; the boys are ranked No. 9 in LPD2 – Owosso Argus-Press

8. Baseball: Undefeated and No. 8-ranked Hartland opened the Bobcat Classic with a 5-1 win over No. 16 Grand Blanc – State Champs Sports Network

9. Boys Golf: Whitehall edged Lowell by seven strokes with a 338 to win the Wildcat Invitational – Local Sports Journal

10. Softball: Three Rivers’ Kali Heivilin did it all during a sweep of Paw Paw, playing every position in the second game and finishing the day a combined 9 for 9 with four home runs – WWMT

Also of note …

Boys Basketball: Current Alabama assistant and former Southfield Christian head coach Josh Baker has been hired to take over at River Rouge – Detroit News