When the Central Oregon Stampede ownership decided to leave the sport, the hole was immediately filled by the High Desert Lightning under a new group led by Matt Douthit retaining many of the Stampede standouts and announced the name change in October 2006.  After an 0-3 start, the Lightning found their stride reeling off 6-consecutive wins enroute to the Oregon Football League Championship over defending champion Oregon Outlaws with some former Central Oregon teammates in orange and black.  In a hard fought battle the Outlaws prevailed, but it cost Oregon a shot at the GNFA playoffs due to too many injuries. The Lightning stepped up as a replacement representative for the OFL in the regional playoff adding a few of the Outlaws and Portland Monarchs players but to no avail as the South Sound Shockers steamrolled the Lightning/OFL select team 47-2 in a rainy yet special game played on base in legendary Cowan Stadium at Fort Lewis, Washington.  Lighting players with former military service were introduced to the crowd of soldiers prior to the game.  Roy Price was the OFL Defensive MVP repeating the feat he garnered in 2001 as an Outlaw.  The Lightning coaching staff was named OFL Staff of the Year for making transition in short-order and reaching the Championship game.
 
The 2008 squad had an average showing that wasn't helped by being the recipient of two forfeit wins including one the week before meeting the Oregon Monarchs.  The two weeks off may have cost High Desert some sharpness in the OFL playoff matchup.
 
2009 fell below team expectations during a 1-7 campaign that began and ended OFL play with blowouts to the Klamath Crusaders. 

2010 started off much better with an early season win over the Vipers, but again Klamath derailed things with a dominate victory in week 2 and sent the Lightning on a spiral that resulted in eight straight defeats capped again with a loss to the Crusaders.
 
2011 continued the string of losses with opening shut outs in their first four of five games.  Offensive firepower had vanished. The season ended at 0-10 and prior to kick off of the 2012 season in March, team officials announced the shut down of the team due to lack of participation on and off the field.

DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION TO CONTRIBUTE?  CONTACT US! (email)