San Dimas running back Jake Payton will be forced to sit out his senior season after a ruling today that his transfer to Upland was athletically motivated. The CIF-SS denied Payton’s transfer due to a violation of rule 510, according to its website.
This is the second high profile football transfer in the Inland Valley to receive this ruling in the offseason. Payton can only hope to have more success in the appeals process than Diamond Bar transfer Antonio Hull. Originally, San Dimas planned not to challenge Payton’s transfer to Upland, but changed its tune this week.
“We had a change of heart, it’s a group decision,” Zernickow told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune on Monday. “My opinion is that you can’t say nothing if something happened.”
Payton was likely to be the featured back for an Upland team that has posted a 26-2 record the last two seasons combined. The 5-foot-9, 190-pound running back was the Valle Vista League MVP last season after averaging 10.3 yards per carry on the way to 1,658 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Payton practiced with San Dimas in the spring, but has been participating in passing league tournaments with Upland this summer.
