Establishing itself as Odessa's first high school, the school began playing football in the early 1920's. Elmer Watson became the school's principal in 1923. Shortly thereafter, Watson installed the football program to keep the boys in school and out of trouble. Some old uniforms and equipment were collected from Howard Payne University, where he had attended. The original OHS uniforms were purple and gold, with the mascot being the Yellowjackets. The first ball used by the team was a basketball... the footballs had to be mail-ordered. 

Local fans, and mothers of the players, prepared the field for games, which was located near Grant and 9th Street. Tumbleweeds, grass burrs, and goatheads had to cleared for the weekly event, while the boys dressed in a little room under a water tank. Football was catching on quick, as the merchants would put signs in their windows, "Closed for Football Game".

In 1929, the nickname would be changed to the current mascot, the Bronchos, by a unanimous vote of 113-0 by the student body. In the same year, the game field was moved to 13th and Center area, what is now the Odessa Boys Club. Three years later, Fly Field was opened on 10th Street, south of what is now the OHS Fieldhouse, and the games were moved to there. The Bronchos would see two more playing field moves. Barrett Stadium, now part of the Odessa College Sports Complex, played home for several years. In 1982, the Boss Hoss found themselves moving on up to their current field of battle, Ratliff Stadium.