MEDWAY (MA) – A monster game by Leslie Busch powered the Jersey Justice past the New England Intensity in opening round IWFL playoff play. Busch scored caught three touchdowns in the 30-7 road win for the Justice.

In a little bit of role reversal the Justice dominated the ball most of the contest sustaining long drives and making big plays at opportune times. The Justice’s A-formation spread the Intensity defense, forcing them to cover the entire field every play.

The Justice sustained two long drives in the opening quarter (a quarter in which the Intensity ran three offensive plays) attacking the edges of the Intensity defense. Running the edges opened the middle of the Intensity defense, not for the running of quarterback Meagan Larsen, but for the passing game.

The soft spot in the defense exposed itself on a fourth down play in the first quarter. Larsen dropped back as the Justice called the perfect play, a middle screen to Mary Byrne. When Byrne caught the ball, the three players closest to her were her blockers. The Intensity tackled Byrne at the 5-yard line, but the damage was done. Three plays later, Larsen hit Busch for the first of three touchdowns.

Defensively, the Justice proved just as dominant. Facing the power running of Steph Samuelson, the Justice routinely stacked the line of scrimmage with eight defenders making running the ball difficult. Passing the ball was also a chore for the Intensity as the secondary provided tough one-on-one coverage downfield, intercepting two passes.

After a diving interception by Laurie Fitzpatrick halted an Intensity drive, Busch turned in three big plays leading to the second score of the game. First, a 30-yard reception of a heave from Larsen, then a 15-yard run around left end, and finally the 21-yard touchdown reception down the middle of the field.

The Justice put the game away early in the third quarter. After forcing a three-and-out, the Justice put together a 6-play drive ending with Busch’s 34-yard touchdown reception.

Samuelson finally broke through the Justice defense with a 9-yard run, but the momentum was short lived.

Busch made one more big play, taking a handoff 40 yards around left end, spotting the ball at the Intensity 23-yard line. The following play, using Busch as a decoy, Larsen fired a laser into the middle of the Intensity defense that Mary Byrne snatched out of the air and turned into a 23-yard touchdown.

With the win the Justice advance to the next round of the IWFL Tier II playoffs and a trip to Canada, where they will face the Montreal Blitz with a spot in the championship game at stake.