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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: 5/27/25

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 27, 2025

1. TRACK & FIELD The top-ranked Holland Christian girls and No. 1 Battle Creek Harper Creek boys won Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association team titles in Division 2 – Holland Sentinel | Battle Creek Enquirer

2. TRACK & FIELD The top-ranked Remus Chippewa Hills girls and No. 3 Traverse City St. Francis boys won Division 3 MITCA team championships – Big Rapids Pioneer | Traverse City Record-Eagle

3. TRACK & FIELD The top-ranked Hillsdale Academy girls and No. 1 Riverview Gabriel Richard boys won MITCA titles in Division 4 – Hillsdale Daily News | Athletic.net

4. TRACK & FIELD East Kentwood swept Division 1 MITCA championships; both the girls and boys teams were ranked No. 1 entering the meet – Athletic.net

5. SOFTBALL Division 3 No. 6 Grass Lake claimed its fifth-straight Cascades Conference title with a sweep of honorable mention Brooklyn Columbia Central – Jackson Citizen Patriot

6. SOFTBALL Benzie Central swept Onekama to clinch its first Northwest Conference title in this sport since 1996 – Manistee News-Advocate

7. BASEBALL Division 3 No. 9 Grass Lake also claimed its fifth-straight Cascades Conference title on the baseball diamond with a sweep of Brooklyn Columbia Central – Jackson Citizen Patriot

8. SOFTBALL Bronson finished a fourth-straight Big 8 Conference title run with a sweep of Concord – Coldwater Daily Reporter

9. SOFTBALL Division 4 No. 6 Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart swept Vestaburg to clinch a fourth-straight Mid-State Activities Conference title – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

10. SOFTBALL Division 3 No. 3 Evart earned a shared Highland Conference title with Division 4 No. 2 Beal City by sweeping LeRoy Pine River – Cadillac News

Also of note …

TRACK & FIELD The Rochester High girls and Rochester Adams boys won Oakland County championships – Oakland Press Girls | Boys