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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:

Finals Broadcasts Return This Weekend

January 13, 2021

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Finals in three MHSAA sports will make for a busy weekend of live streaming for the MHSAA Network and FOX Sports Detroit as championships will be awarded in girls volleyball, Lower Peninsula girls swimming & diving and 8-player football.

Girls volleyball coverage begins with Division 3 and 2 Semifinals on Thursday (Jan. 14) and continues with Division 4 and 1 Semifinals on Friday and all four championship matches Saturday from Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena. Girls swimming & diving coverage includes both diving Friday and swimming Saturday from three sites – Hudsonville High School, Grand Rapids Northview High School and Lake Orion High School. Both will be broadcast on MHSAA.tv.

FOX Sports Detroit will broadcast Saturday’s 8-Player Football Finals from Legacy Center, both on its Facebook page. The 8-Player Finals will be broadcast delayed on FSD’s primary cable channel at 8 and 11 p.m. on Jan. 21.

The MHSAANetwork.com website will carry live audio of all Volleyball Semifinal and Final matches Thursday through Saturday (Jan. 14-16), as well as the 8-Player Football Finals.

Additionally, all 16 11-Player Football Semifinals will be broadcast by FOXSportsDetroit.com or MHSAA.tv. A list of links to all games will be available Thursday.