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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: 9/30/20

September 30, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A possible preview of the Lower Peninsula Division 1 Girls Golf Finals tops today’s lineup of Tuesday’s headliners, followed by more girls golf standout performances and a few league championship clinchers.

1. Girls Golf: No. 2 Plymouth shot 327 to edge No. 3 Northville by four strokes and No. 4 Grand Blanc by eight and win the Ann Arbor Pioneer Invitational against a field featuring five of the top 10 teams in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – We Love Ann Arbor

2. Girls Golf: LPD3 No. 3 Big Rapids clinched its 10th league championship in 11 seasons by winning the Central State Activities Association Tournament – Big Rapids News

3. Girls Golf: Repeat medalist Lauren Reed led repeat team champ Battle Creek Harper Creek to the All-City title – Battle Creek Enquirer

4. Boys Soccer: South Lyon downed Walled Lake Western 3-2 to clinch a share of the Lakes Valley Conference championship – Oakland Press

5. Girls Golf: Anci Dy shot a career-low 64 to lead LPD1 No. 10 Traverse City West to the Cheboygan Invitational championship – Traverse City Record-Eagle

6. Volleyball: Onsted earned an impressive sweep of Division 3 No. 7 Hudson – Adrian Daily Telegram

7. Girls Swimming & Diving: Zeeland swam past Holland 106-69; they are honorable mentions in LPD1 and LPD2, respectively – Holland Sentinel

8. Cross Country: The Manistee girls and Mason County Central boys won six-team races in Ludington – Manistee News Advocate

9. Boys Soccer: Detroit Catholic Central moved to 5-0-2 with a 3-1 win over Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice – Observer & Eccentric

10. Volleyball: Division 3 No. 8 North Muskegon remained undefeated in the West Michigan Conference with a four-set win over Hart – Local Sports Journal

Also of note …

Girls Golf: Durand set a school and conference record shooting 359 to win the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference Tournament – Owosso Argus-Press