Lemont’s Luke Wallace felt like he was 12 years old again.

But instead of playing youth football for the Lemont Hornets, this was the real deal on the high school level. And Wallace ended up scoring three touchdowns on three touches.

You know who wasn’t surprised? Senior running back Nate Wrublik.

“I’ve seen him do it when we were playing pewee ball,” Wrublik said of Wallace, a senior wide receiver. “No one can catch him. No one. That’s just how he is.”

Wallace wasn’t alone, either, as Wrublik ran for 200 yards on 20 carries as host Lemont beat Richards 68-30 in a South Suburban Conference crossover.

The game featured 16 offensive plays of 20 yards or more, with Lemont (7-0) delivering 10 of those plays. And that’s not even including Wallace’s effort on special teams.

Wallace first struck Richards (4-3), which had a four-game winning streak snapped, with an 80-yard punt return for a TD. He then caught a short pass, turning it into a 49-yard TD.

He followed that up with an 81-yard kickoff return for a TD.

The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Wallace is receiving college interest in baseball. He could get some of his speed from his grandfather, Ron, who lived in Chicago and played baseball.

“I think I have his genes,” Wallace said.

Friday was like a trip down memory lane.

“I used to run around kids and score touchdowns when I played for the Hornets,” Wallace said. “But I never had a game like this in high school.”

The 5-9, 190-pound Wrublik, meanwhile, missed a chunk of last season with an injury. He’s trying to make up for lost time.

He ran for 115 yards in the third quarter and scored TDs of 42, 63 and 2 yards, helping Lemont produce its most points in a game this season.

“Nate’s a tough running back,” Wallace said. “He works really hard in practice and earns the carries he gets. He’s going to keep doing that and help us win ballgames.”

“I broke my ankle last year and had surgery on it,” Wrublik said. “This is my bounce-back year to show everybody who I am, and I have to keep going.”

Since the inception of the South Suburban Conference in 2006, these two teams have played each other 10 times. Lemont holds a 6-4 series lead.

Richards, however, had won the previous three meetings in 2013, 2016 and 2017. And the Bulldogs came out with a pass-happy plan too.

Senior quarterback Joe Mayo, who visited Ball State this week, completed 25 of 38 passes for 310 yards and four TDs. He hit Terangie Eskridge nine times for 88 yard and two TDs.

Richards coach Tony Sheehan said he was happy with the passing game and the fight his team showed but needs to do some soul-searching.

“I have to look in the mirror and see the things we have to change,” he said. “I take full responsibility for this. This shouldn’t happen. It’s on me.

“It’s my fault and you know what? I’ll take a hard look at what needs to be fixed.”

Lemont piled up 529 yards, with senior quarterback Payton Salomon throwing for 169 yards and two TDs. He also ran for 61 yards and two TDs.

Junior running back Daniel Taylor also gave Lemont fans a good peek into the future with a late 70-yard run.

The offensive barrage has become commonplace this fall for Lemont.

“With Lemont football, the defense usually carries the team,” Wallace said. “But this year, we’re trying to change that. The offense is trying to take control and win us some ballgames.”

“Our offense is very good,” Wrublik said. “We have an amazing quarterback, amazing receivers and a great line. And we have a decent running back, I guess.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.