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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: 10/9/20

October 9, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The boys soccer regular-season rushed toward its conclusion Thursday with a league championship game and two more intriguing semifinals making our headliner list.

1. Boys Soccer: Walled Lake Western edged Walled Lake Central in overtime to claim the Lakes Valley Conference Tournament title – The Spinal Column

2. Boys Tennis: No. 6 Troy defeated No. 14 Rochester Adams to earn a Lower Peninsula Division 1 District championship – Oakland Press

3. Boys Soccer: Muskegon Mona Shores came back from a two-goal deficit to defeat Division 2 No. 6 (MPR) Wyoming 4-3 in an Ottawa-Kent Conference Green semifinal – Local Sports Journal

4. Boys Soccer: Division 2 No. 12 (MPR) Richland Gull Lake advanced to the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference championship game with a 3-0 win over No. 15 St. Joseph – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

5. Girls Golf: LPD4 No. 9 Harbor Springs clinched another Lake Michigan Conference championship – Petoskey News-Review

6. Girls Swimming & Diving: LPD1 top-ranked Ann Arbor Pioneer outraced No. 10 Ann Arbor Huron 123-63 – We Love Ann Arbor 

7. Boys Soccer: Division 3 No. 4 (MPR) Elk Rapids downed Boyne City 3-0 to finish the Lake Michigan Conference scheduled unbeaten – MI Sports Now

8. Volleyball: Saugatuck downed Holland to remain undefeated this fall – Holland Sentinel

9. Girls Swimming & Diving: LPD2 No. 10 Fenton put up multiple pool records in a win over Swartz Creek – WJRT

10. Boys Soccer: Essexville Garber came back from a one-goal deficit to defeat Bay City Central 3-1 – Bay City Times

Also of note …

Girls Golf: From Wednesday, Sturgis locked up its fifth Wolverine Conference title in six seasons – Sturgis Journal

Boys Soccer: From Wednesday, Division 1 No. 10 (MPR) Brownstown Woodhaven claimed a third-straight Downriver League title with a win over Gibraltar Carlson – Southgate News-Herald

Boys Soccer: From Wednesday, Sterling Heights downed St. Clair Shores Lakeview to clinch a share of the Macomb Area Conference Blue title – Macomb Daily