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Perham Yellowjackets football is buzzing in 2026. ready to take their next step under fourth-year head coach Jesse Hein.

“The plans are there. Now we just got to follow suit,” said Hein.

Last season, Perham won five games. The most since Hein took over the program in 2023, including his first postseason win. Numbers are strong. Over 70 athletes are on this year’s team on the back of a successful offseason program.

“Hopefully it’s going to be on display here this fall.”

With their experience in the system and on the field, Perham athletes are expected to hit the ground running on day one. Coach Hein, a former Yellowjacket himself, knows for Perham to continue their upward trajectory his experienced team will need to supply the intensity every day.

“Energy. I mean, if you bring energy to practice then the effort tends to follow,” said Hein. “We’re an athletic bunch. You will see we have athletes all over the field. We got a good line up front. We are going to spread the ball around and just force defenses to cover us. Just a lot of athletes running around.”

Senior Tiegan Detloff brings energy from all around the field as he gears up for his final season as a Yellowjacket.

“Oh it’s awesome,” said Detloff. “Been looking forward to it all year and being with these guys is so fun. Football is just fun in general.”

Detloff plays at quarterback, tight end, and outside linebacker on defense. His favorite part is the game within the game.

“I like to use my mind. like read the defense, go over and see what’s open and yeah just reading defenses and playing mind games,” said Detloff.

Another senior leader for Perham is Carsen Zeise. Who is ready to build off of his favorite football memory: sweeping East Grand Forks last season, including in the Section 8AAA Tournament.

“We don’t really like East Grand [Forks] so it was fun to beat them,” said Zeise.

Logging plays in at linebacker defensively, Zeise loves carrying the rock on offense.

“I like to be the one hitting people. Not getting hit,” said Zeise.

As a senior, zeise leads by example. doing whatever it takes to try and guide an improving Yellowjacket program back to an appearance in a section championship game for the first time since 2019.

“For myself, just contribute to the team in whatever I need to do. Playing multiple positions. For the team, we got to make it to the dome and break that seven year losing streak.”

The Yellowjackets know a great opportunity is in front of them with back to back home games against Park Rapids Area and East Grand Forks to start the season. For Perham to get where they want to go, coach Hein says they need to have the right mentality all season long

“Oh it’s going to be so fun,” said Zeise. “We’re going to give the fans what they want week one. The first two games of the year are home. We are going to get two dubs and get the season rolling.”

“Just that winner’s mentality. Doing whatever it takes to win a football game and carrying each other through different adverse situations,” said Hein. “If you can have a good player led team. those teams are usually playing later in the season and that’s what we’re shooting for.”

Here is the Perham Yellowjackets 2026 football schedule.(opens in new tab)