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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: 3/1/21

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

March 1, 2021

County championships, a league title and more power-packed matchups across multiple sports headlined a weekend that also saw another handful of basketball stars achieve career milestones.

 

1. Boys Swimming & Diving: Birmingham Seaholm – No. 1 in Lower Peninsula Division 2 – won the Oakland County meet championship, breaking LPD1 No. 2 Detroit Catholic Central’s three-season hold on the title – Oakland Press

2. Wrestling: Division 3 top-ranked Dundee swept a home quad defeating Division 1 No. 10 Clarkston, Division 2 No. 2 Warren Woods Tower and Brownstown Woodhaven – Monroe News

3. Boys Swimming & Diving: LPD2 No. 3 Ann Arbor Skyline dealt No. 10 Dexter its first loss, 100-80 – We Love Ann Arbor

4. Boys Basketball: Oscoda clinched a third-straight North Star League Big Dipper championship with a big win over Whittemore-Prescott – WBKB

5. Boys Swimming & Diving: LPD1 honorable mention Macomb Dakota repeated as Macomb County champion – Macomb Daily

6. Hockey: Division 3 No. 2 Calumet finished a weekend sweep of No. 5 Hancock with a 4-1 win – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

7. Boys Basketball: Brendan Young became Fowlerville’s all-time leading scorer with 33 points in his team’s 72-55 win over Holt – Lansing State Journal

8. Girls Basketball: Abbey Kimball went over 1,000 career points as Grand Rapids West Catholic doubled up Hamilton – Grand Rapids Press

9. Boys Basketball: Flint Beecher handed Flint Carman-Ainsworth its first defeat, 65-63 in double overtime – WJRT

10. Hockey: Division 2 No. 1 Byron Center downed Division 1 No. 7 Traverse Bay Reps 4-0 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Also of note …

Girls Basketball: Kara Stutzman went over 1,000 career points in Blissfield’s big win over Clinton – Adrian Daily Telegram

Girls Basketball: Mya Petticord went over 1,000 career points as Ypsilanti Arbor Prep rode a big second half past Chelsea – Ann Arbor News

Boys Basketball: Gavin Miller scored 41 points in Leland’s win over Buckley to go over 1,000 for his career – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Baseball: Kalkaska baseball coach Bill Vandergriff announced his retirement after 41 seasons – MI Sports Now