Women's Flag Football | 4/24/2026 9:42:00 PM
BROCKPORT, NY — The No. 2-seeded SUNY Brockport women's flag football team etched its name into the record books on Friday, April 24, defeating No. 4-seeded Elmira, 36-31, at Bob Boozer Field to capture the first-ever Empire 8 Flag Football Championship. In a high-stakes contest defined by explosive offense and opportunistic defense, the Golden Eagles overcame an early double-digit deficit to secure the title in front of a home crowd.
Turning the Tide
Elmira raced out to a 12-0 lead in the opening quarter, capitalizing on two early scoring drives. Brockport responded in the second quarter behind a pivotal defensive play from freshman Addy VanDeWater, who intercepted a pass and returned it six yards for a touchdown to put the Golden Eagles on the board.
The momentum continued to shift as Brockport's offense found its rhythm late in the half, adding another touchdown to take a 13-12 lead into the break.
Empire 8 Tournament MVP
Megan Gerber was named Empire 8 Tournament MVP following a dominant two-game performance as a dual-threat quarterback. In the championship victory, Gerber rushed for 260 yards and one touchdown on 33 carries while passing for 127 yards and three touchdowns.
Across the tournament, Gerber accounted for nine total touchdowns, averaging 167 passing yards and 3.5 passing touchdowns per game, while adding 214 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown per contest. She totaled 387 yards of offense in the title game alone, leading all players.
Gerber's scoring passes were hauled in by Addy VanDewater, Caitlynn Haugh, and Trelani Harper, each of whom recorded a touchdown reception to power the Golden Eagles' offense.
Comeback Effort and Defensive Impact
After trailing 12-0 early, Brockport's defense proved to be the catalyst for the comeback. VanDewater's interception return in the second quarter cut the deficit to 12-6 and ignited a surge that gave the Golden Eagles a halftime advantage.
A defining moment came in the third quarter during an Elmira two-point conversion attempt. With the Soaring Eagles threatening to add to their total, Gerber delivered a game-changing play on defense, intercepting the pass and returning it the length of the field for two points. The return replaced a late-game safety in the official scoring and provided a critical momentum swing in Brockport's favor.
The Golden Eagles' defense was relentless throughout the contest, forcing five interceptions. Ava Leyh and Addy VanDewater each recorded two interceptions, while Lauren Cundra added another. VanDeWater led the team with eight solo flag pulls, followed by six each from Jaianna Byrd and Leyh. Ariana Kennedy and Cymbri Jefferson also contributed defensively, recording one sack apiece.
Elmira Standouts
Hannah Smith, who led the comeback charge in winning the E8 Semifinal at SUNY Geneseo Tuesday, threw for 258 yards, while rushing for 116 yards and three scores. Faith Ingber huled in seven passes for 107 yards, while Kylie Hook had eight grabs for 95 yards and a score. Ingber also led the way defensively with 13 tackles, while Amarionah Dixon and Hook had a pair of interceptions apiece.
Up Next
Following its historic conference championship victory, Brockport will continue its home stand at Bob Boozer Field. The Golden Eagles will host Robert Wesleyan in the inaugural Mark's Pizzeria Flag Football Cup on Wednesday, April 29, at 4:00 p.m., before concluding the season with a Senior Day matchup against Daemen University on Friday, May 1. Game time for the regular-season finale will be announced at a later date.