Page 1 of 12 Pages

                                 UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                                 SCHEDULE 13D

                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                              (Amendment No. 8)*

                            SAGA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
             -----------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                             COMMON STOCK, CLASS A
             -----------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                   786598102
             -----------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                  Linda S. Martinson, Esq. (212) 583-2000
                767 Fifth Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10153
             -----------------------------------------------------
                 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
                Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

                                 
             -----------------------------------------------------
            (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box [ ].

Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement [ ].
(A fee is not required only if the filing person: (1) has a previous  statement
on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the class of
securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment subsequent
thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less of such class.)
(See Rule 13d-7.)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities,
and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of
the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see
the Notes).

                                                    SEC 1746 (12-91)

Amendment Number 8 to Schedule 13D (continued) CUSIP No. 786598102 Page 2 of 12 Pages - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Baron Capital Group, Inc. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ X ] (b) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS OO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(C) OR 2(E) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF 7 SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES 477,500 BENEFICIALLY -------------------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER EACH 3,177,147 REPORTING -------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER WITH 477,500 -------------------------------------------------------------- 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 3,177,147 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 3,654,647 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 41.3% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* HC, CO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT

Amendment Number 8 to Schedule 13D (continued) CUSIP No. 786598102 Page 3 of 12 Pages - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Baron Capital, Inc. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ X ] (b) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS OO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(C) OR 2(E) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF 7 SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES 477,500 BENEFICIALLY -------------------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER EACH 589,747 REPORTING -------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER WITH 477,500 -------------------------------------------------------------- 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 589,747 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,067,247 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 12.0% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* HC, CO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT

Amendment Number 8 to Schedule 13D (continued) CUSIP No. 786598102 Page 4 of 12 Pages - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON BAMCO, Inc. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ X ] (b) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS OO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(C) OR 2(E) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF 7 SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES BENEFICIALLY -------------------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER EACH 2,587,400 REPORTING -------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER WITH -------------------------------------------------------------- 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 2,587,400 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 2,587,400 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 29.2% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* IA, CO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT

Amendment Number 8 to Schedule 13D (continued) CUSIP No. 786598102 Page 5 of 12 Pages - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Baron Capital Management, Inc. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ X ] (b) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS OO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(C) OR 2(E) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF 7 SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES 477,500 BENEFICIALLY -------------------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER EACH 589,747 REPORTING -------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER WITH 477,500 -------------------------------------------------------------- 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 589,747 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,067,247 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 12.0% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* IA, CO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT

Amendment Number 8 to Schedule 13D (continued) CUSIP No. 786598102 Page 6 of 12 Pages - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Baron Asset Fund - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ X ] (b) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS OO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(C) OR 2(E) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF 7 SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES BENEFICIALLY -------------------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER EACH 2,312,400 REPORTING -------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER WITH -------------------------------------------------------------- 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 2,312,400 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 2,312,400 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 26.1% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* IV, OO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT

Amendment Number 8 to Schedule 13D (continued) CUSIP No. 786598102 Page 7 of 12 Pages - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Ronald Baron - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ X ] (b) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS OO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(C) OR 2(E) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF 7 SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES 477,500 BENEFICIALLY -------------------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER EACH 3,177,147 REPORTING -------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER WITH 477,500 -------------------------------------------------------------- 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 3,177,147 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 3,654,647 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 41.3% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* HC, IN - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT

Page 8 of 12 Pages Item 1. Security and Issuer (a) Name of Issuer: Saga Communications, Inc. (b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 73 Kercheval Avenue Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236 (c) Title and Class of Securities: Common Stock, Class A Item 2. Identity and Background (a) Name: Baron Capital Group, Inc. ("BCG") Baron Capital, Inc. ("BCI") BAMCO, Inc. ("BAMCO") Baron Capital Management, Inc. ("BCM") Baron Asset Fund ("BAF") Ronald Baron (b) Business Address: 767 Fifth Avenue 24th Floor New York, NY 10153 (c) Present Principal Business or Employment: BCG: Holding company BCI: Broker/Dealer, holding company BAMCO: Investment adviser BCM: Investment adviser BAF: Registered investment company Ronald Baron: President: BCG, BCI, BAMCO, BCM; CEO of BAF 767 Fifth Avenue 24th Floor New York, NY 10153 (d) Record of Convictions: During the last five years, Filing Persons were not convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors.) (e) Record of Civil Proceedings: During the last five years, Filing Persons were not a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgement, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating such activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws. (f) Citizenship: BCG, BCI, BAMCO and BCM are New York corporations. BAF is a Massachusetts business trust. Ronald Baron is a citizen of the United States. Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration BAMCO directed the purchase of 2,587,400 shares of the issuer for its investment advisory clients for an aggregate purchase price of $33,979,383. Of those shares, 2,312,400 were purchased for the account of BAF, for a total purchase price of $30,174,831. BCM directed the purchase of 1,067,247 shares of the issuer for its investment advisory clients for an aggregate purchase price of $12,056,863. All of the shares were paid for by cash assets in the respective clients' accounts and by margin borrowings for the account of one BCM client pursuant to standard margin agreements with Spear, Leeds & Kellogg.

Page 9 of 12 Pages Item 4. Purpose of Transaction The securities referred to herein were acquired in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of such securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purposes or effect. Filing Persons reserve the right to discuss management and other proposals with other persons. Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer (a) Amount and percentage beneficially owned: BCG: 3,654,647 41.3%* BCI: 1,067,247 12.0%* BAMCO: 2,587,400 29.2* BCM: 1,067,247 12.0%* BAF: 2,312,400 26.1% Ronald Baron: 3,654,647 41.3%* *Disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares (b) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) sole power to vote or direct the vote: BCG*: 477,500 BCI*: 477,500 BAMCO*: 0 BCM*: 477,500 BAF: 0 Ronald Baron*: 477,500 (ii) shared power to vote or direct the vote: BCG*: 3,177,147 BCI*: 589,747 BAMCO*: 2,587,400 BCM*: 589,747 BAF: 2,312,400 Ronald Baron*: 3,177,147 (iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition: BCG*: 477,500 BCI*: 477,500 BAMCO*: 0 BCM*: 477,500 BAF: 0 Ronald Baron*: 477,500 (iv) shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: BCG*: 3,177,147 BCI*: 589,747 BAMCO*: 2,587,400 BCM*: 589,747 BAF: 2,312,400 Ronald Baron*: 3,177,147 *Reporting Persons may be deemed to share power to vote and dispose of shares referred to herein as a result of control relationships (BCG and Ronald Baron with respect to all of the shares; BCI with respect to the BCM shares; BAMCO with respect to the BAF shares) and pursuant to investment advisory relationships with advisory clients. The shares reported above for sole power are attributable to investment partnerships for which BCM and Ronald Baron serve as general partners. (c) A schedule of transactions effected in the last thirty-six days is attached hereto.

Page 10 of 12 Pages (d) Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person: The investment advisory clients have the right to receive the dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of the securities in their respective accounts. To the best of Reporting Persons' knowledge, other than the shares reported herein, no person has such interest relating to more than 5% of the outstanding class of securities. Baron Capital Partners, L.P., an investment partnership and an advisory client of BCM, owns 468,750 (5.3%) of the shares reported herein. (e) Ownership of Less than Five Percent: Not applicable. Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer By virtue of their investment advisory agreements with their clients, BCM and BAMCO have been given the discretion to dispose or direct the disposition of the securities in the advisory accounts. All such agreements are, however, revocable. The advisory agreements for the Baron Funds have been approved by their Board of Trustees. The agreements of the Baron Funds are filed as exhibit 99 to Form N1-A for Baron Asset Fund and are incorporated by reference herein. All the advisory agreements are pursuant to a standard form. Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits Exhibit 99 - 36 days of trading. Signature After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date: August 25, 1997 Baron Capital Group, Inc., Baron Capital, Inc., BAMCO, Inc., Baron Capital Management, Inc. and Baron Asset Fund By: /s/ Ronald Baron _______________________________________ Ronald Baron, President Ronald Baron, Individually By: /s/ Ronald Baron _______________________________________ Ronald Baron

                                      Page 12 of 12 Pages


Transaction Schedule
From 07-18-97 To 08-22-97

            Acct                     Exec.
Date        ID    Trans     Qty..      Price
- --------  -----     -----         ------      ---------
07-22-97  baf  by        2,000      19.5536
07-22-97  bcm4 by         5,000   19.5536
07-23-97  bgi  by           750   19.5000
07-24-97  baf  by         2,100   19.3750
07-24-97  bcm4 by         2,500   19.3750
07-25-97  baf  by         5,600   19.4710
07-28-97  baf  by         5,300   19.3750
07-28-97  bcm4 by         5,000   19.4100
07-31-97  baf  by        10,000   19.3125
08-04-97  bcm4 by         4,000   19.5000
08-05-97  baf  by        25,500   19.2525
08-05-97  baf  by         1,000   19.6250
08-06-97  baf  by         1,500   19.7000
08-06-97  baf  by           200   19.5000
08-07-97  baf  by         5,000   19.9963
08-07-97  baf  by         5,100   19.9963
08-07-97  baf  by         5,000   19.9963
08-08-97  baf  by         6,700   20.0000
08-08-97  bcm4 sl         1,000   20.0000
08-13-97  baf  by         2,000   20.2500
08-14-97  baf  by        55,400   20.2556
08-15-97  baf  by         2,000   20.2500
08-15-97  baf  by         5,000   20.2500
08-18-97  baf  by         5,000   20.2500
08-19-97  baf  by         2,500   20.2500
08-19-97  baf  by        13,000   20.5000
08-19-97  baf  by         2,500   20.5000
08-19-97  bcm4 by         1,500   20.5000
08-19-97  bgi  by         5,500   20.5000
08-20-97  baf  by         5,000   20.6250
08-20-97  baf  by        10,000   20.6875