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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: 5/12/25

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 12, 2025

1. GIRLS TENNIS Holland West Ottawa – No. 8 in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – claimed its ninth-straight Ottawa-Kent Conference Red championship – Holland Sentinel

2. TRACK & FIELD The LPD3 top-ranked Remus Chippewa Hills girls and Big Rapids boys won Central State Activities Association championships, Chippewa Hills’ girls for the 22nd-straight season – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun | Big Rapids Pioneer

3. TRACK & FIELD Grass Lake’s girls claimed their fifth-consecutive Cascades Conference title, and Jonesville and Hanover-Horton’s boys are co-champions after the former won the league meet – Jackson Citizen Patriot Girls | Boys

4. GIRLS TENNIS Hemlock won six tournament flights on the way to claiming a repeat Tri-Valley Conference title – Saginaw News

5. TRACK & FIELD The LPD1 No. 1 East Kentwood, No. 7 Byron Center, No. 9 Middleville Thornapple Kellogg, No. 4 Zeeland East, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central and Hopkins girls, and LPD1 No. 1 East Kentwood, No. 8 Byron Center, No. 9 Zeeland West, LPD2 No. 7 Wayland, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern and Hopkins boys all won O-K Conference championship meet titles – Grand Rapids Press Girls | Boys

6. GIRLS SOCCER North Farmington capped an outright championship run in the Oakland Activities Association Blue with a 7-1 win over West Bloomfield – Oakland Press

7. GIRLS LACROSSE Detroit Country Day edged East Grand Rapids 11-10 in a matchup of Division 2 favorites – Detroit Free Press

8. TRACK & FIELD The Sturgis girls and LPD2 No. 3 Three Rivers boys won Wolverine Conference meet championships – Sturgis Journal

9. TRACK & FIELD The Bay City Western girls and Midland boys won in the Saginaw Valley League – Bay City Times | Athletic.net

10. TRACK & FIELD The Belleville girls and Northville boys won Kensington Lakes Activities Association titles – Hometown Life

Also of note …

GIRLS TENNIS Edwardsburg finished as overall champion in the Wolverine Conference – Sturgis Journal

TRACK & FIELD The Shepherd boys and LPD2 No. 3 Gladwin girls earned Jack Pine Conference meet titles – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun | Athletic.net

TRACK & FIELD The LPD3 No. 6 Adrian Madison boys and No. 4 Blissfield girls won Lenawee County Athletic Association meets – Adrian Daily Telegram | Athletic.net