This past weekend was a fascinating one across the USL Championship landscape, including a familiar face providing another game-winning moment for the Tampa Bay Rowdies, the race at the top of the Western Conference and around the playoff lines in both the East and West take some more notable twists, and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC deliver one of the performances of the season.

Here are the three big storylines we took away from Week 28’s action, our picks for who’s up and who’s down coming out of the weekend, and thoughts on everything else we saw around the league.

TOP THREE STORYLINES

1. OF COURSE, IT’S LEO FERNANDES

It’s been a long road back for the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Leo Fernandes from the torn Achilles’ tendon he suffered in preseason a year ago.

It had been 679 days since he had last found the net for the side in the USL Championship when he headed home against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in Week 27. But there could hardly have been a better person to score the game-winner as the Rowdies won for just the second time in the past eight games in a thrilling 2-1 result against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.

• UP AGAINST IT: After their midweek defeat in Birmingham, the Rowdies found themselves up against it again at halftime against the Hounds, trailing by a goal. The side got back on level terms through a brilliant goal from the combination of Cal Jennings and Manuel Arteaga, however, to get the side back on level terms.

• LATE BOUNCE: From there, both sides went after a winner, and finally the ball bounced the Rowdies’ way. A sharp touch by Endri Mustali teed up Fernandes for a shot from 20 yards, and when it was partially blocked and squirted free for a second opportunity the veteran banged home a shot that deflected off a defender and in.

• HE SAID IT: “These last three games have been a real confidence-booster for myself, but I’m just happy we won, honestly,” said Fernandes. “We’ve been going through a tough stretch, so it was good to get the three points.”

As I wrote last week, the Rowdies have been one of the biggest enigmas in the USL Championship this season. On Saturday, they became the first time to rally for victory against the Hounds after trailing at halftime in two years – Pittsburgh hadn’t suffered defeat in 24 consecutive games when ahead at the break – for another illustration of how resilient they can be.

Ironically, this wasn’t one of those games in which they dominated and deserved more from as has happened frequently this year, but instead one where the key bounce went its way to turn one point into three.

If that’s a redress of the balance of fortune the Rowdies have been lacking, it came at an ideal moment. Now, another key game awaits in Charleston this Saturday.

2. FAST START KEY FOR SACRAMENTO

Sacramento Republic FC will be first to admit to the up-and-down nature of its form this season. Head Coach Mark Briggs admitted after his side’s 2-0 victory against Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday that the side hadn’t hit its stride yet.

Which meant the performance and result the side produced against Rising at Heart Health Park provided a blueprint for what Republic FC needs to produce down the final stretch of the season.

• OUT OF THE GATES: Republic FC recorded four shots and opened the scoring through Sebastian Herrera before Phoenix got its first shot in the first half as it brought an intensity that immediately put the visitors on their heels.

• HE SAID IT: “The intensity that we showed at the start of the game and the quality that was shown when we came out in the first 20 minutes really won us the game,” said Briggs. “A really good performance at home, two goals and a clean sheet, that's all you can ask for.”

• WHY IT MATTERS: Last week’s loss in Charleston aside, Sacramento is one of the best teams in the league when it comes to playing from the front. Eleven of its 12 wins this season have come when the side has scored first, making its early-game focus crucial.

The big test for Republic FC will be whether it can sustain that intensity over a key stretch of games that continue this week. Sacramento heads to New Mexico United on Wednesday night for a top-two clash that could pull it within four points of the top with a game in hand and a rematch with United in Sacramento still ahead on Sept. 29.

It then heads to face Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday, with the Lights having stung Republic FC when they met in Sacramento earlier this season. It’s a tough stretch, one the side knows it needs to come through strongly.

“The next stretch of games is probably the hardest we could ask for,” said Republic FC wingback Jack Gurr, who notched assists on both goals. “So, every game's the Final. We want to prepare ourselves for the playoffs, so we’re going to take every game, every series like it’s our last. We’ll just build on this performance, because it’s now a tough stretch away.”

3. THE SWITCHBACKS CONTINUE TO RISE

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC didn’t just hand the Charleston Battery their fifth loss of the season on Saturday night. In their 2-0 victory, running the Switchbacks’ winning streak to four games, they also made a strong case for why they can make a run in the postseason.

“All game long, they beat us on the duels and the second balls, and they just kept going,” said Battery Head Coach Ben Pirmann. “So, fair credit Colorado Springs, they completely outplayed us and outworked us.”

• KINGS OF THE HILL: The Switchbacks put in about as dominant a display as anyone’s been able to against the Battery this season. Not only did they hold a substantial edge in scoring opportunities, but they limited Charleston’s potent attack led by Golden Boot leader Nick Markanich to only 0.24 Expected Goals – the lowest mark for the Battery this season.

• DICTATING THE PLAY: The Battery had more possession overall, but that paled in comparison to how the Switchbacks controlled territory. The hosts won possession seven times in the attacking third compared to just once for Charleston as only 22 percent of the game was played in Colorado Springs’ defensive third.

• HE SAID IT: “I think it’s a completely different performance than the last couple of weeks,” said Switchbacks Head Coach James Chambers. “We didn’t have the ball as much as we would like but I felt we were defensively solid.”

The Switchbacks have momentum going into the final stretch of the season as they vie with Sacramento Republic FC and Memphis 901 FC for a top-two finish. Getting a high seed would be big for Colorado Springs – they’ve won 10 games at home compared to only three on the road so far this season – but their road form at places like El Paso Locomotive FC next weekend is likely to now dictate how many games they get at Weidner Field in the postseason.

 “I think we really have something to play for and hold onto right now which is a home playoff game fighting for second,” said Switchbacks defender Matt Mahoney. “We still have to go to Sacramento, we go to El Paso next, a team we should be able to beat. It’s all about the momentum and making sure we don’t let this slip.”

Three Up

Louisville City’s defense – LouCity has not only recorded its first consecutive shutouts in league play since early May, it hasn’t allowed a shot on target in its last two outings against Loudoun United FC and FC Tulsa.

Zach Ryan – Loudoun United’s captain became the first player in its history to record consecutive seasons with double-digit goals as he led the side’s comeback 4-2 victory against Birmingham Legion FC on Saturday, jumping United back above the playoff line.

Jack Gurr – Sacramento’s standout notched a pair of assists against Phoenix Rising to jump into the race for the Golden Playmaker award, sitting on seven and one back of current leader Jorge Hernández of San Antonio FC.

Three Down

Justin Malou – It’s the toughest decision to make for a defender, but North Carolina’s Malou needed to hope goalkeeper Jake McGuire could bail him out instead of getting sent off for denial of a goalscoring opportunity three minutes in against Memphis.

Monterey Bay F.C.’s attack – MBFC hasn’t scored in 362 minutes after a scoreless draw against Las Vegas Lights FC, which definitely isn’t a recipe for getting back above the playoff line.

Robert Coronado – The veteran midfielder’s been solid since arriving in El Paso, but getting sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card for dissent in a game you’re about to lose just shouldn’t happen.  

THE REST OF THE ACTION

#DETvNM: New Mexico United has consistently found ways to come out on top of games like this so far this season. This is what it looks like when that doesn’t happen, with Detroit City relieved to come away with a win for its home fans for the first time since June.

#INDvELP: It’s only one game, sure, but if this is the combination Indy Eleven can look to in attack moving forward then there should be better things to come down the road. Certainly, this was much more like what we’ve been expecting from the Boys in Blue.

#LDNvBHM: The back-and-forth between Loudoun United and Birmingham Legion was everything a six-pointer should be. Huge win for United to get back above the playoff line with games in hand on the teams trailing them.

#MIAvHFD: Poor Khadim Ndiaye. A week after the Miami goalkeeper kept his side in the game against New Mexico, his error was the nail in the coffin to gift Mamadou Dieng his ninth goal of the season.

#MEMvNC: Marlon Santos, welcome back. The Brazilian’s first goals since June 28 gave 901 FC what it missed against Hartford Athletic in midweek and earned an important win on a weekend when both Oakland and Las Vegas dropped points in the race for the top four out West.

#TULvLOU: Jansen Wilson’s growth from the start of the season to now has been a joy to behold for Louisville. Overall, it was a hard-fought win for LouCity on the road, and it put a lot of pressure on FC Tulsa to rebound in a tight playoff race.

#OAKvSA: San Antonio’s defense has regained its mojo and goalkeeper Richard Sanchez is looking solid as an emergency replacement. Oakland could have taken something from this game, but SAFC shut them down effectively after getting its early lead.

#OCvRI: Bryce Jamison got the goal for Orange County, and took it beautifully, but goalkeeper Colin Shutler was the story. His superb six-save shutout delivered the win OCSC needed in a game Rhode Island FC probably deserved to get something out of.

#LVvMB: A draw was probably satisfactory for the Lights as they continue to edge toward the postseason. It definitely wasn’t for Monterey Bay, which continues to struggle in the final third.