When the Battle Bowl XVII bracket was released, one first-round matchup immediately stood out.
Not because the teams don’t know each other.
Because they know each other too well.
The #3 seeded DILLIGAF and #14 seeded Critical Roll both come from the Deep South Conference. Now, familiarity gives way to survival, with only one franchise advancing to the Elite Eight.
One team enters as the favorite.
The other enters believing this is exactly where Cinderella stories begin.
Few franchises have built a resume as impressive as DILLIGAF.
District Champions in 2023-24 and 2025-26, Team Rankings Champions in 2023-24, and finalists in the rankings every season they’ve existed, Jim Koepfler’s squad has become synonymous with consistency.
Their journey to Battle Bowl was dominant. Outside of a single late-season loss after already locking up the district title, DILLIGAF controlled the Queen City District from start to finish. They earned the Deep South’s top seed through chemistry, execution, and relentless focus.
Even more impressive is the championship pedigree throughout the roster.
Former World Champions Josh Pittman and Dennis Killough headline a roster filled with past WCS title holders. This is a franchise that understands the pressure of the biggest stage.
But according to Koepfler, talent isn’t what separates DILLIGAF.
It’s their chemistry.
“No one lets the stage get too big. Everyone has the same goal, and that’s to win it all.”
If DILLIGAF represents established excellence, Critical Roll represents relentless perseverance.
Despite never winning a district or Team Rankings championship, Sam Benifield’s franchise has quietly (or not so quietly) qualified for the playoffs every season since its inception. Their energy and quirky phrases will sure turn heads. What exactly does “Banana Bread” and “It’s MILFin time” mean? That’s a question for the ages, and surely to be heard for the first time in Delaware.
This year’s road to the Sweet 16 may have been their toughest yet.
Critical Roll survived a gauntlet that included an upstart first-year franchise, a former district and rankings champion, and a Wilder Cup-winning team. Time after time they found themselves trailing in total pins after Game 1, only to rally together and steal victories one match at a time.
Their biggest strength?
Team chemistry.
Benifield believes their camaraderie is what transforms a collection of talented bowlers into a dangerous tournament team.
Rather than relying on individual stars, Critical Roll feeds off one another’s energy and momentum.
Still, keep an eye on Nick Hall, who has been dominant on the left side throughout the season, and Zach Baer, whose intensity has become one of the team’s emotional engines.
On paper, DILLIGAF owns nearly every measurable advantage.
Multiple district championships
Team Rankings championship
Former World Champions throughout the lineup
Battle-tested veterans
Deep South’s No. 1 seed
But Battle Bowl has never been won on paper.
Critical Roll enters with nothing to lose and everything to gain. Their season has been defined by overcoming adversity, and they’ve embraced the role of underdog every step of the way.
Momentum can be a dangerous weapon in a single-elimination tournament.
Josh Pittman — Hall of Famer, former World Champion, and one of the UBA’s premier anchor bowlers.
Fred Cantrell — The ultimate clutch performer who seems to deliver whenever the pressure is highest.
Stephen Bernsdorf — A reliable handicap anchor capable of filling frames and delivering timely strikes.
Adam Wilson — Brings fire, emotion, and explosive scoring.
Chris Gill — One of the franchise’s emerging young talents.
Paul Chatman — The emotional heartbeat of the team whose energy never wavers.
Nick Hall — A consistent force who has carried the left side throughout the season.
Zach Baer — Undersized but fearless, providing energy that can swing an entire match.
Jessica “Chyna” Simmons — Current Vixen Champion who gives Critical Roll championship-level experience.
Because these teams come from the same conference, there won’t be many surprises.
The advantage won’t come from strategy.
It will come from execution.
One missed spare.
One timely double.
One momentum-changing frame.
That’s all it may take to decide who keeps their Battle Bowl XVII dream alive.
One thing is for certain…
When two Deep South rivals meet on the biggest stage in the UBA, there are no secrets—only survival.
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