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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:

Moment: Noeker Hurdles into Elite Club

April 24, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Tyrone Wheatley is as heralded a legend as any in MHSAA track & field history.

On June 5, 2010, Pewamo-Westphalia’s Cory Noeker joined the former Dearborn Heights Robichaud star in an accomplishment no other Lower Peninsula runner has matched.

Noeker closed his high school career by becoming the second to win four titles at an LP Boys Track & Field Finals, claiming the 110 (14.70) and 300 (38.95) hurdles and 100 (11.16) and 200-meter (22.6) dashes at that year’s Division 4 meet.

“I always knew I could do it, but I always had this nervousness. ... The whole year I didn't lose in those big meets. I felt confident that I could pull it off,” Noeker told the Lansing State Journal the following week.

His feat came 20 years after Wheatley’s in 1990, and the four titles gave him six total in individual events to go with three in relays won during his sophomore and junior seasons. Five Upper Peninsula athletes also have won four titles at a boys Finals meet, making for seven total to achieve the rare accomplishment. Noeker went on to compete for Central Michigan.

See below for his four 2010 championships from the NFHS Network. (Photo courtesy of the Lansing State Journal.)