The Odessa Roughnecks began their inaugural season at a lousy 2-4. The team rallied to finish at 9-7 and make the playoffs. Odessa lost an 80-75 thriller to Amarillo in week ten. The last four weeks of the regular season began an incredible regular season win streak that lasted well into 2006. After securing homefield for a playoff game, the Roughnecks fell 61-54 in overtime to Lubbock. When the IFL disbanded following 2004, the Roughnecks joined the NIFL. When the IFL reformed, Odessa rejoined the league. The Roughnecks regular season win streak came to an end in their eleventh 2006 regular season contest. The ROughnecks attempted a field goal to break a 63-63 tie with no time left against Louisiana. However, the attempt was botched and returned for a Swashbuckler touchdown. Odessa lost at San Angelo two weeks later in very similar fashion, as a final second field goal snap went over the head of the holder and was returned for a score. The Roughnecks secured the top spot in the playoffs and hosted Louisiana in the first round. This time, Odessa got the three point victory, 53-50. Corpus Christi traveld to Odessa for Intense Bowl II and Odessa won the game, 97-56. The 97 Roughneck points is currently a record for points scored in any championship game in any indoor/arena football league. The Roughnecks looked to follow up their incredible 2006 season with another championship year. However, it was not to be. The team lost key players and became mediocre. In week one, Louisiana held the Roughnecks to just ten points. The team did rebound, finishing at 8-6 and qualifying for the playoffs. In a rematch of the previous year's semifinal, Odessa traveled to Louisiana. The game was tight throughout, but with under a minute to go in the game, Louisiana kicked what would be a winning field goal. Odessa lost, 43-40. The Roughnecks began the 2008 season with two surprising back-to-back losses against Fairbanks and Alaska. Dennis Gile led the team for much of the year, He threw for eight interceptions in a 76-7 loss to Corpus Christi, With a 7-7 record, the Roughnecks clinched a home playoff game against Frisco. Frisco played their eighth road game in a row and got demolished by the Roughnecks, 64-34. Odessa advanced to another postseason meeting with Louisiana. After leading at halftime, the Roughnecks lost in the final minutes, 59-57.