August 10, 2026
By Adam Ruffner
There will be no repeat title for the Boston Glory in 2026. The New York Empire defeated the reigning champions 24-21 in the East Division Championship Game on Saturday night, and will advance to face the Oakland Spiders in the semifinals of Championship Weekend on August 27. The win gives New York their third division title since 2022, and their fifth overall in the last seven seasons.
The Empire built an early 7-4 lead in the first quarter thanks to their confident offense, consistent defensive pressure on the Glory backfield, and some early Boston mistakes, which yielded short-field break scores for the visitors. But some defensive adjustments by the Glory, including the implementation of trap double teams on certain New York throwers at the beginning of drives, and another massive production night from reigning MVP Tobe Decraene made the game nearly even by the third quarter.
“We had it under control, and then the momentum kind of changed,” said New York’s Daan De Marrée in a postgame interview. “I think the double team from the pull is a very interesting way to stop momentum of the play. They did a good job of pushing us deep.”
Yet even with some disruptions, New York finished the game with just 14 total turnovers. The 2026 Empire as a team are currently on pace to finish with the lowest turnover rate in league history.
“Our offense was just giving so much confidence to the whole team,” De Marrée said, noting that the unit was broken just once in the first half. The second-year star had an uncharacteristic three throwaways against Boston, but his mistakes were offset by eight total scores, five hockey assists, and nearly 700 yards of total offense.
Other New York notables include Ben Jagt, who racked up five goals and 274 receiving yards without a turnover, and MVP frontrunner Alex Atkins, who continues to play like the engine of the league’s best offense. Jagt turns 34 in 10 days, and the former two-time MVP and four-time league champion is playing his best frisbee in years, making a statement play at the end of the third quarter with another playoff buzzer beater, as well as showing off the speed in the fourth quarter for a crucial goal. Atkins tied a season high with four total turnovers on the night, but he also had an array of throws that optimized scoring chances for the New York attack; Atkins was the thrower on Jagt’s buzzer beater, and he tossed the clincher to a streaking De Marrée in the final moments of regulation.
And while New York’s offense continues to generate buzz and headlines, the Empire defense is not-so-quietly playing like the best coverage group in the UFA. 10 different New York players finished with a takeaway against Boston, and the team was a tidy 6-of-11 on break chances. Drew Schnaudigel has become a standout defender in his second season as a pro, while Axel Agami Contreras and rookie sensation Nicholas Whitlock put coffin nails in the Glory’s comeback hopes in the second half.
New York has attended two of the last three Championship Weekend events held in Madison, including winning a title in 2022.
