Columbus Connection: Kamman, Hampton lead South to victory in annual all-star game

By Ted Schultz  tschultz@therepublic.com Sports writer First Posted: July 13, 2012 - 11:35 pm Last Updated: July 13, 2012 - 11:36 pm

INDIANAPOLIS – Kyle Kamman and Luke Hampton spent seventh and eighth grade as teammates, playing wide receiver and catching passes from Gunner Kiel at Central Middle School.

After going separate ways for their high school careers, Kamman and Hampton were back on the same team this week, and they were a big reason the South downed the North 16-7 Friday night in the Grange Insurance Indiana North-South All-Star Football Game.

“We had a long week of practice, and we had worked even before we came to camp, so we were on time with all the throws,” said Kamman, who switched to quarterback at Columbus North and started for the South on Friday.

Kamman, who is headed to Ball State, completed 6 of 11 passes for 64 yards. Two of his completions went to Hampton, a Columbus East grad headed to Findlay (Ohio), who led the South with 50 yards.

“It’s been awhile since I’ve played a full game, so it was nice to connect with Kyle,” Hampton said.

Kamman and Hampton were given a 7-0 lead before they ever took the field. Lance Magee of Avon returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown on the game’s first play from scrimmage.

“It definitely got the jitters off,” Kamman said. “For us to come out with a 7-0 lead gave us a lot of confidence.”

Kamman’s first throw of the night went for 15 yards to Hampton on a third-and-7 from their own 29. They just missed connecting on a long pass down the right sideline in the third quarter, but on the next play, Kamman found Hampton over the middle for 35 yards on third-and-11.

“I jumped too early (on the pass down the sideline),” Hampton said. “It was nice that Kyle gave me a little signal on the next play. I knew I had a post route, so I just went for it, and he threw the ball.”

By that time, the South led 16-0 and wasn’t doing a lot of throwing.

“It’s not a big deal,” Hampton said. “All that matters is that we won the game. We had some nice completions, so that was good for Columbus.”

“I would have loved to throw it more obviously, because I’m a quarterback,” Kamman added. “I feel great throwing the ball. I have guys like Luke around me. We’re on the same page, and I’m looking forward to getting up there (to Ball State) with Chris Shillings, who I played with (at North). With the chemistry that we have, it makes it a lot easier on me to throw the ball.”

Kamman, who alternated series with Westfield’s Wade Burtron, led both of the South’s offensive scoring drives.

“I can see why they had the folks in Columbus excited all year,” said Scecina coach Ott Hurrle, who guided the South. “They’re both really good athletes and really great people. The character of those kids is just tremendous. Athletically, they’re good, and you can see why they’re on this team.”

Kamman and Hampton were happy to be back on the same squad.

“It was kind of nice just to get that East-North rivalry weight off our shoulders,” Kamman said. “We could kind of just go back to doing what we were doing, and that’s being great friends and enjoying playing football together.”

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