New duo gives Yough 1-2 punch on both sides of the ball

By: Paul Schofield
Thursday, August 21, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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There will be a new look in the backfield at Yough this season.

Gone are quarterback Raidon Kuroda and running back Aidan Thornton, the team’s leading rushers. Both are at Seton Hill.

Enter senior Braiden Snyder and sophomore Johnny Gergely at the running back position and junior Aidan Shaffer at quarterback.

Snyder is new to the program, transferring to Yough from Morgantown, W.Va. He played his junior season for Morgantown High and his freshman and sophomore seasons at University High. Both are successful programs.

Kuroda was a three-year starter at quarterback. He rushed for team-high 1,006 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Thornton rushed for 324 yards and two scores. Kuroda also completed 100 of 210 passes for 1,388 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Snyder said he ran fullback out of the wing-T at Morgantown. The 6-foot, 215-pound senior said his job was to block and be physical. That will change at Yough. Cougars coach Benny Hoffer likes his physical running style.

“I like to run the ball down people’s throat,” Snyder said. “My previous coaches helped me a lot. I will bring grittiness. I love to run the ball and make people scared of me.

“I have an opportunity to run the ball here and help Johnny be a better player. We have a great running back corps here. We have bruising backs like me and Johnny and a quick back like Dom Kuszaj.”

Gergely, a 6-1, 205-pound sophomore, said he is eager to learn from Snyder. Both are listed as middle linebackers on defense. Gergely said he may switch to the outside because of an injury. Kuszaj is a 5-8, 180-pound junior.

“Braiden is teaching me a lot about leadership,” Gergely said. “When he came here, he gave us a spark. He brought chemistry to the team.”

The last time Yough had a winning season was in 2013.

Hoffer has seen some improvement in the team since he took over in 2022.

“We will be counting on the trio of backs to control the clock,” Hoffer said. “They bring power, they are executing, and they are sponges. They are observing the plays and learning, and they are getting better every day. They also have leadership qualities.

“Braiden has been vocal in the locker room. He came from a winning program back in Morgantown, so he knows a little bit about winning that some of our kids are grasping on. He is bridging that gap for our strong sophomore and junior classes.”

Snyder said he is trying to instill a winning attitude. He knows Yough has kids who will compete.

“We have guys who are not scared to hit,” Snyder said. “We need people who are fearless. We must bring the grit, and we need to be motivated.

“Coming here, it felt a little dead. We did not have too much team chemistry. Now we do. Johnny and I need to pick up everyone around us.”

Hoffer said he sees a bright future for Gergely. He looks for him to become a leader like Snyder.

“Johnny is going to play college football,” Hoffer predicted. “He has a big frame. He has been in the weight room the entire summer.

“He has been a great leader. He is so versatile, he can play multiple positions and do a lot of different things in our offense.”

Shaffer was the second-leading receiver for Yough in 2024. He caught 26 passes for 501 yards and four touchdowns.

Now he has switched to quarterback and will be throwing to last year’s leading receiver, Ryan Sarver, who had 33 catches for 397 yards seven touchdowns.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

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