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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:

Football Classics Featured Friday on FOX

June 4, 2020

By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

FOX Sports Detroit on Friday will air a series of “Classic” games from the MHSAA Football Finals, including the longest game in Finals history. 

Here’s the complete schedule:

Noon - 1998 Class AA Final: Detroit Catholic Central vs. Rockford – Catholic Central repeats in Class AA with a 27-23 victory. Rockford took a 23-14 lead into the fourth quarter before the Shamrocks got a nine-yard touchdown run from Casey Rogowski on the first play of the segment. With 5:04 to play, a 70-yard pass play from Dave Lusky to Derek Anderson scored the winning points.

2:30 p.m. - 2000 Division 1 Final: Grand Ledge vs. Utica Eisenhower – One of the most dramatic finishes in the history of the Finals, as Grand Ledge scores twice in the final minute to capture the Division 1 title, 19-14.  The Comets drove 80 yards in eight plays, capped by a five-yard scoring run by quarterback Matt Bohnet with 53 seconds to go, but failed on the two-point conversion which would have given them the lead. Grand Ledge recovered the ensuing onside kick, and two plays later, Bohnet hit Tim George with a 45-yard touchdown pass with 22 ticks left on the clock for the game winner.

4:30 p.m. - 2006 Division 2 Final: Muskegon vs. Warren De La Salle Collegiate – These two teams went back and forth, with the fourth lead change going Muskegon’s way en route to a 32-30 win for the Big Reds. Ronald Johnson opened the scoring for Muskegon by returning a De La Salle fumble 36 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter, and then delivered the winning blow on the first play of the fourth quarter, catching a Chris Crawford pass for a 47-yard scoring play. Crawford rushed for 228 yards and passed for 137.

7 p.m. - 2007 Division 3 Final: East Grand Rapids vs. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s – After ending regulation tied at 14-14, these two teams went for five overtimes before East emerged as a 46-39 winner.  During regulation, Joe Glendening scored twice on runs of 68 and eight yards; and in overtime, he scored in the fourth and fifth extra periods.

Some portions of the games may be edited out due to time constraints.