In last weekend’s shutdown of previously unbeaten Needham, senior Brian Lewis intercepted a pass at the Rockets’ 20 yard line, delivered a shoulder barge that pushed a would-be tackler to the turf and sauntered into the end zone. He then strode to the sideline with open arms, and was promptly brought down by a mob of his Red and Blue teammates.

There’s no shortage of physical ability. When UConn-bound quarterback Scott McCummings was rushed out of the pocket, he zipped a 60-yard frozen rope, off his back foot, that went over the back of the end zone.

There’s the humility. Minutes after Natick put the finishing touches on their 35-0 win, McCummings was calling his linemen to stand behind him as he was being interviewed by a television crew.

Collectively, there is talent all over the field, on both sides of the ball, enough to prompt more than a few observers to note that this is one of the most complete Red and Blue squads in some time.

“We feel offended if we don’t score, so we make it a point to score a lot,’’ McCummings said after the TV cameras were turned off, his younger brother tugging at his side. “Our defense feels offended if they give up any points, or even first downs. We believe we shouldn’t be stopped - although we believed that last year, too, but this year we have the players to back it up.’’

With the speedy McCummings (1,770 total yards of offense, 16 total touchdowns) directing a read-option attack, the 8-0 Red and Blue are averaging 40 points a game and have won by an average margin of 33.8 points. Defensively, they are allowing just 6.1 points a game, with four shutouts, and have not allowed more than two scores in a game.

The most noticeable key element is speed. Just how fast are the Red and Blue?

Coach Tom Lamb has worked with a number of speedsters over the years, from the recent past (Reshaude Goodwyn, Ayo Yayo) to the distant past (Doug and Darren Flutie).

Count Brett Flutie (19 catches, 409 yards, four touchdowns), wideout Robbie Jackson, defensive end Rajeev Chorghade, tight end C.J. Dawson, and defensive tackle Mike DelMonaco among the elite.

“It’s a good combination. We’re as fast as I’ve ever been with one of our teams at Natick,’’ Lamb said. “We’ve had some individual kids that are fast, but we’ve got quite a few of them, so that’s a nice combination.’’

A year ago, Natick lost its final two games to finish 9-2 overall. This season, there seems to be more of a sense of urgency.

Having a healthy McCummings helps (he struggled with a high ankle sprain over the final four games last fall), but perhaps that determination is best exemplified through someone like senior tailback Antone Wilson.

At 5-foot-5 and 180 pounds, the scrappy water bug complements an ability to cut through the second line of defenders with a deceiving amount of power. Bench pressing 300 pounds and squatting 405 - outlifting even the linemen - Wilson (843 rushing yards, 9.92 yards per carry, eight total touchdowns) is considered pound for pound the team’s strongest.

“I had big expectations for my junior year, but I didn’t end up playing much,’’ said Wilson, who had 63 yards rushing against Needham. “This year, I wanted to step up and be a leader on this team. We needed a running back, and I wanted to step up and be that guy.’’

Lamb doesn’t hesitate to call him an unsung hero, but Wilson’s backfield mate offered different praise.

“I wouldn’t call him unsung. He makes you remember he’s good,’’ McCummings laughed. “He reminds us all the time.’’

The Cougars are now 5-1 in league play, 5-2 overall.

Not often does a quarterback lead a team in rushing, but fourth-year head coach Dan MacLean has found considerable success with such an attack. Last season, the Cougars ran an option attack with Lucas Mistler.

This year’s answer is junior Randy Hardy, who is averaging nearly 6 yards per carry and surpassed the 1,000-yard mark as part of his one-score effort in Saturday’s win.

He is now tied with Michael Del La Femina of Framingham’s Marian High with 13 touchdowns, second-best in Division 4A.

At 5-foot-8 and 155 pounds, Hardy is not only a quick back, but one of the team’s toughest competitors.

“He’s just an elusive runner. He’s quick, he’s athletic,’’ MacLean said. “He finds that seam and he makes you pay for it. He goes right at you, and he’s tough to bring down. He just brings it, he goes up the middle hard.’’

In what was one of the season’s more thrilling finishes, St. Mark’s battled with Independent School League archrival Rivers before pulling out a 36-33 win on its home field in Southborough.

After Shaquor Sandiford connected with Tom Renhert for a 12-yard touchdown score to give Weston’s Rivers School a 33-30 lead, the Lions marched down the field to score as time expired. Quarterback Brian Ayers snuck it in from a yard out with no time left, handing the Red Wings their third consecutive loss.

The two upstart programs combined for 40 points and six lead changes in the fourth quarter alone; overall, they combined for 694 yards of offense.

One of the crazier endings?

“It’s up there,’’ Rivers head coach Rich Fisher said. The finish was so hectic, he said, he hadn’t even noticed the scoring spree in the fourth quarter “until somebody told me after the game.’’

Brendan Hall can be reached at bhall59@hotmail.com.