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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: 3/17/21

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

March 17, 2021

Major matchups of league leaders Tuesday were capped off by conference title celebrations as the final week of the basketball regular season, along with the first week of the hockey postseason, rolled on.

1. Girls Basketball: Standish-Sterling clinched the Tri-Valley Conference 10 title by handing Saginaw Nouvel its first loss, 40-37 – Bay City Times

2. Girls Basketball: Kent City clinched its eighth straight league title, downing Morley Stanwood 68-36 in the Central State Activities Association Silver – WOOD TV

3. Boys Basketball: Battle Creek Pennfield clinched its first league title since 2003, downing Coldwater 44-41 in a matchup of leaders in the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference – Battle Creek Enquirer

4. Girls Basketball: Muskegon Western Michigan Christian’s 49-34 win over Ludington created a shared championship for those two in the Lakes 8 Conference – Local Sports Journal

5. Girls Basketball: Midland Dow clinched the Saginaw Valley League championship with a 61-34 win over Grand Blanc – WJRT

6. Boys Basketball: Rockford claimed the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red title outright with a 55-48 win over Holland West Ottawa – Grand Rapids Press

7. Girls Basketball: Byron Center Zion Christian clinched the Alliance League title outright with a 52-21 win over Kentwood Grand River Prep – FOX 17

8. Boys Basketball: Monroe Jefferson’s Jason Alston became the second player in school history to go over 1,000 career points during an 85-75 win over Ann Arbor Central Academy – Monroe News

9. Hockey: No. 7 Traverse Bay Reps advanced in Division 1 Regional hockey with a 3-1 win over Grand Haven – MI Sports Now

10. Boys Basketball: Okemos came back from 14 down after three quarters to defeat DeWitt 60-57 in overtime of a Capital Area Activities Conference Blue semifinal – WLNS

Also of note …

Girls Basketball: From Monday, Jenna Dove became the first Vestaburg player to go over 1,000 career points, scoring 19 against Carson City Crystal – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun