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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: 5/21/25

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 21, 2025

1. SOFTBALL Division 2 top-ranked Gaylord swept No. 9 Petoskey to clinch a fifth-straight Big North Conference title – Petoskey News-Review

2. BOYS TENNIS Negaunee clinched its 14th-straight Mid-Peninsula Conference championship – Upper Michigan’s Source

3. TRACK & FIELD Hillsdale Academy swept girls and boys overall championships in the Southern Central Athletic Association; the girls are ranked No. 1 in Lower Peninsula Division 4, and the boys are ranked No. 2 – Hillsdale Daily News

4. BASEBALL Division 4 No. 18 Maple City Glen Lake swept Benzie Central to finish a repeat undefeated run through the Northwest Conference – Traverse City Record-Eagle

5. TRACK & FIELD Brownstown Woodhaven’s teams continued championship streaks, the girls with their fifth-straight title in the Downriver League and the boys in a repeat – Southgate News-Herald

6. BOYS TENNIS Marquette edged Kingsford by three points to clinch the Great Northern Conference Tournament title – Upper Michigan’s Source

7. BASEBALL Division 2 No. 2 Standish-Sterling won the outright Jack Pine Conference championship with a 2-0 victory over Clare – Bay City Times

8. TRACK & FIELD The LPD3 top-ranked Chesaning boys and New Lothrop girls won Mid-Michigan Activities Conference championship meets, with the Hornets’ girls sharing the overall league title with Chesaning’s – WJRT

9. BOYS GOLF Ludington won the final Western Michigan Conference Lakes jamboree to secure the overall league title – CatchMark SportsNet

10. TRACK & FIELD The McBain girls and Manton boys finished championship runs in the Highland Conference – Cadillac News

Also of note …

SOFTBALL/BASEBALL The Division 2 honorable mention Linden and Division 1 No. 5 Grand Blanc softball teams and Goodrich baseball team all clinched league titles – Mid-Michigan Now

TRACK & FIELD Milan’s girls and New Boston Huron’s boys won Huron League championship meets, Milan’s girls sharing the overall league title with Carleton Airport – Monroe News

GIRLS SOCCER Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian won the Ottawa-Kent Conference Silver Tournament title with a shootout victory over Fruitport, but Fruitport won the overall league championship – MuskegonSports.com