In 2006, the Bitterroot Blaze were formed in Hamilton, Montana by Buckie Brawley and Bryan Hellyer.  Many of the players had broken away from the Missoula Raptors, 2005 champions of the Montana division of the Rocky Mountain League.  Making the "AA" playoffs in their first season, running back Justin Nixon earned offensive player of the year after topping 1,400 yards rushing to go with 15 touchdowns.  Nixon would also claim Greater Northwest Player of the Year honors.
 
The Blaze in 2007, asserted themselves at the top of the AA power structure, not only going undefeated, wire-to-wire to capture the AA title in 2007, but setting a number of records in points allowed by a stingy defense along the way, while Justin Nixon rushed to second-consecutive rushing title and a AA MVP award again topping 1,400 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns. The Blaze would ultimately defeat rival, Missoula for the third time in the season by a score of 15-0 to win the title.  Linebacker Jamie Jones won RMFL Defensive MVP honors, while head coach Joe Murawa was named 2007 RMFL Coach of the Year
 
Moving up to the "AAA" division in 2008 opened Bitterroots eyes to the top competition coming out of Utah as they struggled to a 3-5 finish, missing the playoffs and losing the final match to Montana rival Missoula.

The Blaze rebounded in 2009 with a seven-win season, however it was the Utah Shock that would end the Bitterroot season taking two of the last three games including a 27-17 playoff win.

The 2010 team returned to form with outstanding defense through a 5-0 start giving up just 12 points.  Great Falls would upset Bitterroot 22-14 before the Arco Anarchy surprised the RMFL with a convincing 33-16 playoff win over the Blaze.  Justin Nixon again dominated with 17 touchdowns on the season to go with 1,200+ yards on the ground, his third 1,000 yard season.

Defense was still a strong suit in 2011, but the offensive firepower slipped with the retirement of Justin Nixon at tailback.  Four games slipped away, two by a total of 7 points, another by 10, a sure sign of the loss of Nixon's running.

Offense returned in 2012 as the Blaze gave up double digit points in only 3 games, never topping 18, finishing 10-1 and RMFL AA Champions once more.

The Blaze franchise shut down after the 2012 season, and Justin Nixon, one of the top rushers in RMFL history, his name etched in the GNFA Record Books with over 5,300 yards on the ground, was inducted into the GNFA Hall of Fame in 2014. 

Former Blaze quarterback Shane Jurasek, who helmed the position in 2009, 2010 and 2012 during a 17-year career in the Rocky Mountain League, was inducted into the GNFA Hall of Fame in 2019.  Juracek was an RMFL Player of the Year four times, a 16-time All-Star and led the Blaze to their second and final league title in 2012 where he was named Championship Game MVP.  Juracek holds position on a number of career, season, and game passing records including over 28,000 yards through the air and 361 touchdown tosses.

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