Logo

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: 4/21/25

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

April 21, 2025

1. BOYS GOLF Chelsea won Hillsdale Academy’s PGA Reach Invitational with a 310 at Forest Akers West ahead of a field that included Lower Peninsula Division 1 No. 2 Detroit Catholic Central and Division 3 top-ranked Jackson Lumen Christi – Hillsdale Daily News

2. GIRLS SOCCER Division 4 No. 2 Muskegon Western Michigan Christian downed No. 4 North Muskegon 2-0 – Muskegon Chronicle

3. GIRLS SOCCER Division 2 No. 2 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central and top-ranked Hudsonville Unity Christian played to a scoreless draw – Grand Rapids Press

4. SOFTBALL Division 1 No. 6 Grand Haven and No. 8 Muskegon Reeths-Puffer split a doubleheader, and Grand Haven’s Lorelei Chciuk went over 500 career strikeouts – Grand Haven Tribune

5. BASEBALL A.J. Gallino threw a no-hitter and Cole Baij a perfect game as Division 4 No. 10 Norway swept Ishpeming – Iron Mountain Daily News

6. BASEBALL Midland’s Brett Faccio no-hit Division 1 No. 12 Grand Blanc 2-0, but the Bobcats came back to win the second game 4-3 over the Chemics – Midland Daily News

7. BOYS GOLF LPD1 No. 3 Traverse City West carded a two-day 618 to win the Traverse City Central Tee-Off Tournament – Traverse City Record-Eagle

8. TRACK & FIELD Petoskey’s girls and boys swept team championships at Cadillac’s Gary Rathbun Invitational – Cadillac News

9. SOFTBALL Division 3 top-ranked Evart defeated honorable mention Boyne City, Sanford Meridian and Morley Stanwood to win its Cat Classic – Cadillac News

10. GIRLS SOCCER Richland Gull Lake and Byron Center played to a 1-1 draw – Kalamazoo Gazette