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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: 4/26/21

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

April 26, 2021

This spring weekend felt more like winter in many places across the state but was filled with accomplishments including school and tournament records and first-time championships.

1. Boys Golf: Traverse City Central won its first TC Tee Off since 2004 with a 302 on the second day of the tournament – Traverse City Record-Eagle

2. Girls Track & Field: Howell won its Highland Games Invitational thanks in part to Mackenzie Wright’s school record in the 3,200 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

3. Boys Golf: Haslett won the Division 1 team title and Williamston’s Wyatt Vogel was the top individual with a tournament record 68 at the annual Dick’s Sporting Goods Invitational – Owosso Argus-Press

4. Softball: Essexville Garber won its first Bay County championship with a 7-2 win over Bay City Western – Bay City Times

5. Track & Field: Benzie Central swept championships at Cadillac’s Gary Rathbun Invitational with Hunter Jones breaking the boys school 3,200 record – Benzie Record Patriot

6. Baseball: Division 1 No. 11 Macomb Dakota followed up a Thursday loss to No. 16 Romeo with a 9-6 win in Friday’s rematch – Macomb Daily

7. Boys Track & Field: Harbor Springs’ Evan Schwab broke a 50-year-old school long jump record at the Mancelona Invitational – Petoskey News-Review

8. Softball: Escanaba added wins over Macomb Dakota and Frankenmuth to a downstate trip that also saw losses to Hartland and Farmington Hills Mercy – Escanaba Daily Press

9. Boys Lacrosse: Landon Taylor’s goal with 10 seconds to play gave Muskegon Mona Shores a 14-13 win over Reeths-Puffer – Local Sports Journal

10. Baseball: Division 3 No. 15 Traverse City St. Francis won its tournament with a walk-off 8-7 win over Evart in the finale – 9&10 News

Also of note …

Girls Basketball: After a season at Flint Carman-Ainsworth, former Flint Northern star and coach Tonya Edwards is headed back to the WNBA as an assistant coach for the Chicago Sky – Flint Journal