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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: 10/7/20

October 7, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Girls Golf Regionals continued across the Lower Peninsula on Tuesday, joined by boys soccer league championship deciders and volleyball showdowns likely to determine eventual title winners.

1. Girls Golf: No. 4 Grand Blanc, No. 6 Brighton and No. 7 Hartland qualified from a strong Lower Peninsula Division 1 Regional at Lapeer Country Club – Flint Journal

2. Girls Golf: Remus Chippewa Hills won its first Regional championship, edging runner-up Shepherd in LPD4 – Big Rapids News

3. Volleyball: Division 3 honorable mention Morley Stanwood avenged an earlier 3-2 loss to Kent City with a 3-2 win to create a tie for first in the Central State Activities Association Silver – Big Rapids News

4. Girls Golf: No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood was first, Goodrich second and No. 2 Macomb Lutheran North third at the LPD3 Regional at Heather Hills – Macomb Daily

5. Girls Golf: Petoskey, Mount Pleasant and Midland Dow qualified from an LPD2 Regional at Pohl Cat – Petoskey News-Review

6. Boys Soccer: Muskegon Western Michigan Christian earned a share of the Lakes 8 Conference championship with a 5-2 win over Muskegon Orchard View – Local Sports Journal

7. Volleyball: Dexter maintained its lead in the Southeastern Conference White with a sweep of former co-leader Chelsea – Chelsea Sun Times News

8. Girls Swimming & Diving: LPD3 No. 6 Holland Christian edged LPD2 honorable mention Holland 102-80 – Holland Sentinel

9. Girls Golf: Rockford, No. 5 Traverse City West and Traverse City Central advanced from the LPD1 Regional at Sunnybrook – Traverse City Record-Eagle

10. Boys Soccer: A 3-3 draw between Division 1 No. 7 (MPR) Mattawan and Division 2 No. 12 Richland Gull Lake created a three-team tie with Division 2 No. 15 St. Joseph for first heading into the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference Tournament – WWMT