Polito Follows the Crowd to Canyon High

Tailback Fred Polito, who rushed for 1,067 yards and eight touchdowns to lead Thousand Oaks High last season as a junior, said Wednesday he is transferring to Canyon High, where three former Thousand Oaks coaches and three Lancer players have transferred in the past few months.

Polito (5-feet-8, 180 pounds), who shouldered the team’s rushing load for most of last season in place of injured Quincy Jacobs, worked out with the Cowboys on Tuesday and Wednesday.

He said his parents recently decided to relocate in the Santa Clarita Valley and the family will move within a couple of weeks.

Polito said the decision was unrelated to football, but added that he is excited by the opportunity to play for Canyon Coach Harry Welch.

“The whole family is moving because of a job transfer for my father,” Polito said. “But it’s probably best for me. My situation at Thousand Oaks was good, but I wasn’t completely happy. That’s about all I want to say about the matter.”

In April, junior quarterback Brian Shubin transferred from Thousand Oaks to Canyon. Brothers Jim and Joe Robles, both linebackers, followed last month, soon after former Lancer assistants Paul and Mike Gomes, and Larry Mohr accepted jobs on Welch’s staff.