Welcome to the last of our 2023 high school football previews! We’ve been giving you a look at several local teams leading up to the start of the season. Today’s feature is the Lost River Raiders. Don’t forget to check out our Henley Hornets, Klamath Union Pelicans, Mazama Vikings, Crosspoint Christian Warriors and Chiloquin Panthers previews too.
At a glance
Head coach: Dennis Dunlea (26th season, 186-85 overall)
Classification: 1A (8-player)
League: Special District 1
2022 record: 11-1 (5-0 SD1)
Playoffs: State champions (beat St. Paul 43-0)
Returning starters: 4 offensive, 4 defensive
State championships: 3 (1997, 2004, 2022)
Season outlook
If you look at Dennis Dunlea’s resume, you might wonder why he’s still coaching.
Over a quarter century leading the Lost River football program, Dunlea has checked off just about every accomplishment and experience a high school coach could dream of. Winning state championships (in both 11-player and 8-player football). Earning individual accolades (including 2022 1A 8-player coach of the year). Coaching his sons (all three of them).
So what’s left?
“I don’t know,” Dunlea said. “The team is still the great part of it all…it’s still about trying to take a bunch of kids and get them to go in the same direction and play for each other instead of for themselves.”
Lost River has been going in the same direction for much of Dunlea’s tenure. In his 25 seasons as head coach, the Raiders have finished below .500 three times. They’ve won double digit games five times. Last year marked their 18th consecutive playoff appearance.
Dunlea played at Lost River from 1984-1987 and joined the coaching staff in 1995. That year, the Raiders made their second state championship game, where they lost to Dayton 42-6. Two years later, they made it back and beat Glendale 22-8 to win the program’s first state title. After the season, head coach Dave Hill stepped down, and the school named Dunlea as his replacement.
Dunlea won his own state championship in 2004 as Lost River beat Gold Beach 20-19. In 2020, Lost River dropped from 2A to 1A, meaning that the Raiders would now be competing in 8-player football for the first time in their 50-year history. While some coaches might have a hard time adjusting to a different version of football, Dunlea saw that, at its core, the game was more or less the same.
“When you start talking about the Xs and Os of things, obviously there’s some differences,” Dunlea said. “But really, football is fundamental, and if you don’t block and tackle well then you’re not going to be very good. And if you do those things well, then you’re pretty good.”
In their first full season of 8-player football, Lost River went 10-2 and made the state semifinals. Last year, they went 11-1 and beat St. Paul 43-0 in the state championship game to avenge their only loss.
Dunlea must now prepare his players–none of whom were alive for Lost River’s previous titles–for life as defending state champions.
“The biggest thing we do is just talk about it and talk about controlling what we can control and trying to be the best we can be at the end of the year,” Dunlea said. “Whether you were the state champion last year or not, you still strive to be your best in the end.”
“He just told us…‘don’t overthink it, just do the best you can and just play your hardest, every game,’” senior running back and defensive back Connor Dunlea (Dennis’ middle son) said.
“He’s told us many times that we’re not the same team,” senior quarterback and defensive back Chase McAuliffe said. “We’re missing a bunch of dudes and we have different captains this year.”
Indeed, the Raiders lost some key pieces from last season’s team, including 1A[8] player of the year Nathan Dalton, who rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries in the state championship game. Carson Parrish, who was named first team all-state at both offensive and defensive line, and Grady Dunlea (Dennis’ oldest son), who was named second team all-state at both tight end and linebacker, were also notable departures.
Still, there’s enough talent returning that Lost River should be right back in the title hunt. Connor Dunlea put on a two-way masterclass in the state championship game, recording three interceptions, a fumble recovery, a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown. McAuliffe passed for 111 yards and two touchdowns, caught Dunlea’s touchdown pass and made an interception on defense.
Dennis Dunlea won’t be looking at them to gauge how high his team’s ceiling is, though.
“The kids that are coming back, our returners, they’re going to do what they do,” Dunlea said. “The younger kids that are now stepping up…it’s how they develop over the course of the next month or so that will truly determine how good we are.”
Lost River’s newcomers and returners alike will face a strong test to start the season: a state championship rematch. While there will undoubtedly be some premature conclusions drawn from that game, Dunlea doesn’t intend to give it too much weight.
“It’s great if things go well and you get off to the kind of start you hope, but it’s just way early and there’s a lot of football to play, so it’s not the end of the world either way,” Dunlea said.
Ultimately, whether or not the Raiders are able to defend their state title may come down to three things that Dunlea noted Lost River’s previous championship teams had in common.
“For the most part, we were healthy,” Dunlea said. “We got a little bit fortunate, and we played well in the end.”
To hear more from Dennis Dunlea, Connor Dunlea and Chase McAuliffe, check out the extended interview highlights on our YouTube page!
Players to watch
Chase McAuliffe, QB/DB, senior
- Has drawn interest from college programs
- Earned all-state honors at quarterback (first team) and defensive back (honorable mention) in 2022
- Threw for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns in Lost River’s 2022 state championship win over St. Paul…also recorded a receiving TD and an interception on defense
- Threw for 241 yards and 5 touchdowns in Lost River’s 2022 state semifinal win over Powder Valley…also rushed for a TD
- Named captain for 2023
- Also plays basketball
Connor Dunlea, RB/DB, senior
- Has drawn interest from college programs
- Earned all-state honors at defensive back (first team) and running back (second team) in 2022
- Recorded three interceptions, a fumble recovery, a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown in Lost River’s 2022 state championship win over St. Paul
- Caught two touchdowns in Lost River’s 2022 state semifinal win over Powder Valley
- Named captain for 2023
- Three-sport athlete…also plays basketball and baseball
Kayden Hartman, QB/LB, junior
- Filled in for injured starter Grady Dunlea at linebacker in Lost River’s 2022 state championship win over St. Paul…recorded six tackles, a TFL, and two passes defended
Beau Sanders, OL/DL, junior
- Three-sport athlete…also plays basketball and baseball
Joel DeJong, OL/DE, senior
- Recorded a team-high eight tackles in Lost River’s 2022 state championship win over St. Paul
Emmett O’Brien, TE/LB, senior
- Three-sport athlete…also plays basketball and runs track
Juan Carlos Navarro, TE/DB, senior
- Also plays baseball
Schedule
All games at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted
* denotes non-league games
*Sept. 2 vs St. Paul (@ Dufur HS) 7:30 p.m.
*Sept. 9 vs Powder Valley (@ Burns HS) 11 a.m.
Sept. 15 vs Camas Valley
*Sept. 22 @ Heppner
Sept. 29 @ Myrtle Point
Oct. 6 vs Mohawk
Oct. 12 @ Chiloquin
Oct. 20 vs Bonanza
Oct. 27 @ Crosspoint Christian
