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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: 10/1/20

October 1, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Wednesday was girls golf championship day for a number of downstate leagues and counties, as Forest Hills Northern continued an incredible winning streak and Marian started one in memorable fashion.

1. Girls Golf: Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern – No. 1 in Lower Peninsula Division 2 – posted its 31st straight win, taking first at the Ottawa-Kent Conference White Tournament – Grand Rapids Press

2. Girls Golf: LPD3 top-ranked Bloomfield Hills Marian won its first Oakland County Division 1 championship, against a field including LPD2 No. 2 South Lyon and LPD1 No.1 Rochester Adams – Oakland Press

3. Girls Golf: St. Joseph shot 373 to clinch a win in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference Tournament and its eighth-straight league title – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

4. Girls Golf: LPD3 No. 2 Macomb Lutheran North broke Utica Eisenhower’s two-year winning streak at the Macomb County Invitational – Macomb Daily

5. Girls Golf: LPD2 No. 6 Muskegon Mona Shores shot a 359 to win the O-K Green Tournament – Local Sports Journal

6. Girls Golf: LPD4 No. 3 Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep shot a 379 to win the Kalamazoo Valley Association Tournament – Niles Daily Star

7. Boys Soccer: Midland handed reigning Saginaw Valley League champion Dow its first league loss, 4-1 – Midland Daily News

8. Boys Soccer: Riverview moved to 11-0 with a 2-1 win over New Boston Huron – Southgate News-Herald

9. Boys Soccer: Fenton handed Goodrich its first defeat this season, 3-1 – WJRT

10. Boys Soccer: Tristan Feighner scored seven goals to lead Leslie past Stockbridge 7-1 – Jackson Citizen Patriot

Also of note …

Girls Golf: From Monday, Gibraltar Carlson won its first Monroe County Championship title – Monroe News