Assistant sports editor

Darren Sabedra

Darren Sabedra is an assistant sports editor for Bay Area News Group. He has been with the organization since the early 1990s and covered many sports beats, including Stanford football and basketball, pro baseball, the NFL and high schools. He also has worked on the sports copy desk. Darren is a San Jose State graduate.

Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Expertise: High school sports, college football, college basketball, NFL, MLB

St. Ignatius' Shermar Noriega (37) celebrates a tackle with St. Ignatius' Prince Babalola-Buchango (7) in the fourth quarter during the Division 3-AA state championship football game at Fullerton Union High School District Stadium in Fullerton, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)

High school football: Season-ending rankings, way-too-early Top 5 for 2026

December 16, 2025 at 10:35 a.m.

Six teams not ranked at beginning of season finish in Top 25. Plus, final results from our all-in-fun weekly picks competition.

St. Ignatius' Zui Shelton (3) celebrates scoring a touchdown with St. Ignatius' Jake Batchelder (15) and St. Ignatius' Hawkes Packard (20) against Ventura in the third quarter during Division 3-AA state championship football game at Fullerton Union High School District Stadium in Fullerton, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)

CIF state high school football championship scores

December 15, 2025 at 4:36 a.m.

Results from Friday's, Saturday's California Interscholastic Federation championship football games.

Lincoln's head coach Kevin Collins speaks to the team before playing against Valley Center during Division 6-AA state football championship game at Fullerton Union High School District Stadium in Fullerton, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)

CIF state football championships: Friday’s scores, Saturday’s schedule

December 13, 2025 at 7:42 a.m.

Results from Friday's California high school football state championship games.

De La Salle defensive linemen Peli Pasa (19) and TJ Finau (99) exults after forcing a turnover on downs against Pittsburg during the fourth quarter of an NCS Open Division high school football championship game, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 in Pleasant Hill, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)

CIF state football finals: How to watch, what to know about Bay Area teams

December 12, 2025 at 4:51 p.m.

De La Salle, St. Ignatius, McClymonds, El Cerrito, Bishop O’Dowd, Lincoln-San Jose aiming for state titles.

Bay Area High School Sports thumbnail.(Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Bay Area News Group boys athlete of the week: Washington-Fremont’s Matthew Lundag

December 12, 2025 at 8:06 a.m.

Washington-Fremont's Matthew Lundag scores 22 points to lead Huskies to a victory over Buena Park.

Bay Area High School Prep Sports generic image. Photo by Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group

Bay Area News Group girls athlete of the week: Mt. Eden’s Sophia Muñoz

December 12, 2025 at 8:06 a.m.

Mt. Eden soccer player Sophia Muñoz scores four goals in her team's victory over Irvington.

St. Ignatius' Samiu Langi #55 and his teammates read the CIF plaque they just won after their 17-13 victory over Monte Vista in the CIF NorCal Division 3-AA championship game at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco, Calif., Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Karl Mondon for the Bay Area News Group)

How St. Ignatius recovered from 2-6 start to reach a state football final

December 12, 2025 at 12:26 a.m.

St. Ignatius will bring a six-game win streak to 3-AA state championship game on Friday against Ventura.

The victorious Spartans of De La Salle pose for a group photo with their plaque after defeating Pittsburg in an NCS Open Division high school football championship game, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 in Pleasant Hill, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)

Bay Area News Group high school football predictions: Week 16, 2025

December 10, 2025 at 8:12 a.m.

De La Salle or Santa Margarita? St. Ignatius or Ventura? McClymonds or Kennedy-Delano? El Cerrito or Beckman-Irvine? Bishop O'Dowd or Christian-El Cajon? Lincoln-SJ or Valley Center? Our guys make their state championship...

El Cerrito’s Gary Youngblood (1) catches the ball against Menlo-Atherton in the third quarter during the NorCal Division 4-A championship at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)

High school football rankings Week 16, 2025: Bay Area News Group Top 25

December 9, 2025 at 11:34 a.m.

St. Ignatius, El Cerrito move up, Bishop O'Dowd, Lincoln-San Jose enter rankings as season enters final weekend.

Serra’s Charles Walsh (1) makes a 62-yard catch and run against Saint Mary’s in the fourth quarter of their CIF NorCal Division 2-AA Championship game at Saint Mary's High School in Stockton, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. Saint Mary’s defeated Serra 31-24. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Monday Morning Lights: Special season ends for Serra coach, son

December 9, 2025 at 8:59 p.m.

'He's been the best dad anyone could ask for,' Charlie Walsh says about his dad, Patrick. Bishop O'Dowd's run to state final began after 1-3 start. Pittsburg keeps head up...

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