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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: 5/20/24

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 20, 2024

1. TRACK & FIELD The Pinckney boys won their Lower Peninsula Division 2 Regional in historic fashion, and Dearborn Divine Child’s girls won a strong race impressively as well – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

2. GIRLS SOCCER Allen Park Cabrini avenged an earlier loss to Bloomfield Hills Academy of the Sacred Heart with a 3-2 victory that clinched the St. Anne Tournament title, the program’s first Catholic High School League championship in this sport – Southgate News-Herald

3. TRACK & FIELD The Bark River-Harris girls won their third-straight Regional title in UPD2, and the Pickford boys also were victorious – Escanaba Daily Press

4. GIRLS SOCCER Big Rapids downed Howard City Tri County 5-1 to clinch the Central State Activities Association championship – MI Sports Now

5. GIRLS SOCCER Farmington Hills Mercy defeated Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood in the Bishop Tournament final 3-1 to win its first CHSL title in this sport in 31 years – Oakland Press

6. TRACK & FIELD The East Grand Rapids girls and Ada Forest Hills Eastern boys were LPD2 Regional champions at Sparta – FOX 17

7. GIRLS SOCCER Division 2 No. 13 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s also won its first CHSL Tournament championship, defeating Division 3 No. 2 Macomb Lutheran North 3-1 in the Cardinal finale – Macomb Daily

8. TRACK & FIELD The Hillsdale Academy top-ranked girls repeated as LPD4 Regional champions, and the top-ranked boys team took back the title from 2023 champ Reading – Hillsdale Daily News

9. TRACK & FIELD Brighton swept girls and boys Regional titles for the first time, in LPD1 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

10. TRACK & FIELD Clare’s No. 3-ranked girls won their 10th-straight Regional title, and Clare’s top-ranked boys their fourth in a row, in LPD3 at Charlevoix – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun