BACK-TO-BACK: RAPTORS REIGN AGAIN AT THE HARVEST CLASSIC
For the second year in a row, the Harvest Classic belongs to the Rocky Mountain Raptors.
Eight teams arrived at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, on August 22-23 chasing the 2026 Box Lacrosse League championship. After 12 pool-play games, two semifinals and one high-scoring championship battle, the Raptors were the last team standing.
And once again, they were champions.
THE ROAD THROUGH IOWA
Saturday brought a full day of pool play as the Rocky Mountain Raptors, Chicago Portagers, Missouri Mastodons, Salt Lake Storm, Milwaukee Muskies, Madison Milkmen, Naperville Bobcats and Iowa Dogfish battled for four spots on Championship Sunday.
Chicago tore through its pool unbeaten, defeating Iowa 18–3, Naperville 14–3 and Salt Lake 12–6.
Rocky Mountain’s road was tougher.
The Raptors rolled past Madison 19–4 but found themselves in a fight against Milwaukee, escaping with a 5–4 victory in one of the closest games of the weekend.
By Saturday night, eight teams had become four.
CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY
Chicago continued its dominant run Sunday morning, defeating Missouri 9–1 to earn a spot in the championship.
Rocky Mountain answered with a commanding 14–2 semifinal victory over Salt Lake.
That left exactly what the weekend had been building toward:
Chicago vs. Rocky Mountain.
East vs. West.
One game for the Harvest Classic.
Chicago entered the championship undefeated and had surrendered just 13 goals through its first four games.
Rocky Mountain changed that quickly.
The championship turned into a shootout, with both teams trading goals and refusing to give ground.
When the final horn sounded:
ROCKY MOUNTAIN RAPTORS 16
CHICAGO PORTAGERS 14
Thirty goals.
One champion.
And for the second consecutive year, that champion was Rocky Mountain.
After capturing the Harvest Classic in 2025, the Raptors came to Iowa and successfully defended their title, becoming BACK-TO-BACK HARVEST CLASSIC CHAMPIONS.
Chicago finished one victory short after an outstanding tournament run. Missouri and Salt Lake reached Championship Sunday. Milwaukee pushed the eventual champions to within a single goal during pool play. And all eight teams helped turn Xtream Arena into the center of BLL box lacrosse for one unforgettable weekend.
But when the floor cleared, the trophy was heading west once again.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN RAPTORS
2025 HARVEST CLASSIC CHAMPIONS.
2026 HARVEST CLASSIC CHAMPIONS.
BACK-TO-BACK.
One weekend. One champion.
LEGENDS ARE HARVESTED.
