Houghton running back Brayden Goudge was joined by his dad, Jeff (back row left), mom, Gina, grandmother, JoAnn Steinmetz (left), and girlfriend, Shaena Niemela (right), for his signing with Michigan Tech to play football in Houghton starting in the fall. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Houghton High School is better known for its hockey than its football, but that didn’t stop 2025 GLIAC Coach of the Year Dan Mettlach from taking a look at a player close to home and bringing him into the fold. Houghton senior Brayden Goudge will be joining the Michigan Tech Huskies football team after graduation.

For Goudge, getting the chance to go to school, play his sport, and be so close to home, was extremely attractive.

“I am so excited,” he said. “You know, being from here, it’s definitely a great opportunity for me to go to Michigan Tech, stay home, and know the town a little bit.”

For Goudge, being at home also means that his parents, Jeff and Gina, will be able to see him wear the Black and Gold week in and week out.

“(They are) very excited,” he said. “They don’t have to travel far to watch my games, it’s right down the road, so they’re very excited too.”

Goudge was a four-year varsity athlete at Houghton, earning First Team All-WestPAC as a defensive back and a punter. He was also named All-U.P. Dream Team at running back, as he ran for 1,115 yards and scored 16 touchdowns.

For a kid who actually quit the sport in his first year, growing in the following years into a key piece of the Gremlins was special.

“I started in seventh grade, believe it or not,” he said. I actually quit in seventh grade. Midway through I actually quit. I didn’t think I was going to like it, but I came back in eighth grade and I really enjoyed it.”

The difference that next year? The answer is simple, a position change.

“I wasn’t a running back, but I found out that I’m really good at running, so they moved me to running back, and I just loved it,” he said. “I love just trucking guys, stepping, juking, all of that.”

He said scoring touchdowns was something that drew him into loving football, but it is the team atmosphere that is most important.

“Definitely scoring touchdowns and celebrating with your team,” he said. “But being with the team is probably the best part. Just being around the guys, it’s really like a community, like a family.”

Being a Gremlin meant that Goudge was not on teams that won a ton of games, but he embraced whatever role that the coaching staff asked of him. This past season, as he was earning his All-U.P. accolades, he was also tasked with being a leader on and off the field at Houghton.

“It was definitely a great season for me, he said. “We had a smaller team, a younger team, so I really had to step up, like the (other) veterans. But I did very well. I liked the season.”

Serving as captain taught him a lot.

“I was a captain, so I led the team,” he said. “It’s just like being there for the younger guys, because they’re coming in, they have no clue what’s going on. I’ve been there for long, so just showing them around, and what to do, was great for me.”

Getting recognition after the season ended made the hard work worthwhile.

“It means the world,” said Goudge. “Definitely a dream of mine to be an All-U.P. I made it to the All-U.P. Dream Team, too. I’ll be playing in the U.P. All Star Game as well. Definitely means a lot to achieve that goal.”

When asked what his favorite moment playing high school football was, Goudge did not hesitate.
”Definitely my favorite moment is Copper Bowl,” he said. “I played in four of them, and probably this past one was my favorite. Just the energy of the crowd, everybody there, and then, obviously, winning, everyone rushing the field, is definitely my favorite moment.”

What interested Goudge in Michigan Tech, besides being close to home, is the running game the Huskies play.

“They run a lot of single back,” he said. “That’s what we did here my last year. We did single back towards the end of the year. Obviously, just being at home too, I like staying at home.

“Their program is amazing. They have the best coach in the GLIAC. He just won the best coach. So, that obviously attracted me to their school. But, I just dreamt of playing at Michigan Tech since I was a little kid. So, (I’m) very excited.”

Goudge will study exercise science at Michigan Tech.

“Ever since 10th grade (I have been interested in it),” he said. “I injured my foot, so I had to go get physical therapy for that. I just watched the guy do what he had to do on me, and I asked him, ‘Is this really your job?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah.’

“I definitely want to help people. I want to help athletes get back onto the field and doing the things that they love.”