Saginaw Heritage enters the 2026 high school football season with a clear and deliberate message from head coach Justin Thelen: the path back to contention runs through the ground game.
Despite featuring two of the Saginaw Valley League's most productive receivers in senior Jase Behmlander and junior Kingston Wright, Thelen has made the running attack the cornerstone of the Hawks' offensive philosophy. "We have to run to win," Thelen said. Heritage has historically won roughly 94 percent of its games when it outrushes the opponent. Last season that efficiency dipped to the program's lowest yards-per-carry mark since 2021, coinciding with a 4-5 finish that snapped a five-year playoff streak.
Thelen's reasoning is straightforward and multi-layered. A reliable run game creates space for the skill players on the perimeter, reduces turnovers, and keeps the defense off the field. "Success starts on the inside out," he noted. Behmlander and Wright will still see the ball in multiple ways—including designed carries—but the bulk of the workload is expected to fall to a deeper stable of backs. Senior Daijon Wynn showed early promise before an injury cut his 2025 season short and is projected for a heavy role. Landon Kennedy, who played multiple positions last year with significant time at running back, will also factor prominently.
Wright arrives as one of the region's top returning playmakers after a standout junior campaign: 39 receptions for 842 yards and 13 touchdowns (22 yards per catch) plus 12 carries for 81 yards and two scores. Behmlander, the SVL's leading receiver a year ago, produced 57 catches for 857 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 56 rushes for 380 yards and five scores. Both will remain central to the offense, but Thelen wants the run game to set the tone rather than serve as a secondary option.
On the lines, senior Kingston Ware—committed to Grand Valley State—anchors both the offensive and defensive fronts. The offensive line as a whole will feature significant new faces, which Thelen openly identifies as the team's primary area of concern. Still, he expects the unit to develop cohesion quickly and open lanes for the backs. Anthony Fries, who spent most of 2025 at defensive back and receiver, is among the candidates to start at quarterback.
Defensively, Heritage should be more experienced. Early injuries forced a young unit onto the field last season. A strong senior class that has already logged substantial varsity snaps is expected to provide stability and leadership. Thelen described the group as high-character with clear internal leadership, positioning the Hawks to compete for an SVL title, a district championship, and a return to the postseason.
The schedule will test that readiness immediately. Heritage opens at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 29, against Mount Pleasant as part of the "Battle at the Big House" series. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. Mount Pleasant comes in off a 13-1 season that ended in the Division 3 state final. Thelen acknowledged the five-day turnaround before the next game as the primary downside of the high-profile opener but emphasized the overall value of the experience for his players.
From there the Hawks face a demanding slate that includes Midland Dow, Grand Blanc, Davison, Lapeer, Flint Carman-Ainsworth, East Lansing, Big Rapids, and Saginaw United. Grand Blanc and Davison are playing their final seasons in the SVL before moving to the Oakland Activities Association in 2027-28. Six of Heritage's opponents reached the playoffs last year, and five of those won at least one postseason game. Thelen has long embraced the "iron sharpens iron" approach, noting that regular competition against elite programs such as Grand Blanc has elevated his teams over the past five years.
2026 HERITAGE SCHEDULE: Aug. 29 – vs. Mount Pleasant (at University of Michigan) Sept. 3 – at Midland Dow Sept. 11 – Grand Blanc* Sept. 18 – at Davison* Sept. 25 – Lapeer* Oct. 2 – at Flint Carman-Ainsworth* Oct. 9 – East Lansing Oct. 16 – Big Rapids Oct. 23 – at Saginaw United* (*SVL game)
Key returning contributors include Ware, Behmlander, Fries, Wright, Kennedy, DeVitrion Santos, and Kam Laudenslager. Notable newcomers and young contributors to watch are Braylen Malone, Jordan Tatum, Channing Tatum, Jackson Gray, and Lennen Jackson. Wynn is listed as a sleeper candidate who could emerge as a featured piece if he stays healthy.
Thelen's message is consistent: the Hawks possess the experience, character, and skill talent to push for conference and district hardware. The critical variable is whether the new-look offensive line and the renewed emphasis on running the football can generate the consistency that has historically defined successful Heritage teams. If the ground game materializes as planned, the dual-threat ability of Behmlander and Wright should create matchup problems throughout the Saginaw Valley League and beyond.
For Great Lakes Bay Sports fans, the 2026 Hawks represent a program intent on correcting last year's course by returning to the physical, ball-control style that has produced sustained success under Thelen. The opener at the Big House offers an early measuring stick against one of the state's stronger programs. From there, the focus shifts to week-to-week improvement against a schedule built to sharpen them.
