Rapids vs Switchbacks: I-25 Derby Open Cup Preview With Hugh Johnson, Colorado Springs Gazette

Commerce City, Colo.- It’s the third ever I-25 Derby! Wednesday at 7:00 pm MT, Colorado Rapids host Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the Round of 16 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The two sides have not met in official competition since 2016. Dillon Serna scored the only goal in the Rapids 10 win in the fourth round of the Open Cup.

Burgundy Wave spoke to Hugh Johnson of the Colorado Springs Gazette about the Black and Blue, who look different since their 2024 USL Championship winning season.

Burgundy Wave: After an up and down start to the season, Switchbacks have won three games in a row. What have they done well during this stretch? What do they still need to improve on? 

Hugh Johnson: Alan McCann credits the turnaround to the team being more intentional in their actions with and without the ball. The team worked on that especially during the bye week (Week of April 11). What I’ve noticed is that the club has been more aggressive in their actions in the attack and on defense. The forwards are playing with more speed and connection in open play and are able to create opportunities in rapid succession. Sadam Masereka could be a special player (he was drafted by Sporting Kansas City) as he seems to be hitting his stride. By my count, he had a goal and three assists in the two games the club had a couple weeks ago, a 3-0 win over Sporting KC and 4-1 over Monterrey Bay.

Also, Colorado Springs has regained something it didn’t have last season. The Switchbacks are threatening in the 18 again and forcing defenders to make mistakes which leads to penalties. That was a key part of the strikers’ success in 2023 and 2024 as both 9s (Romario Williams in ’23 and Ronaldo Damus in ’24)  scored several goals from the penalty spot in their respective seasons. 

BW: Alan McCann is in his first season as head coach. He was on staff with James Chambers. From afar, it seems like the club fired a coach to hire his assistant. How’s McCann doing as the boss? What’s his style of play?

HJ: From my eye, it’s not much different from the high press style the club has had since 2021 which includes former coaches Brendan Burke, Stephen Hogan and James Chambers. I know he’s big on character and getting the right men in the room. He believes that character will make the difference for the club in crucial moments.

I think he handled the adversity of the early woes of the season well. Colorado Springs conceded late goals (around 70^th minute or later) in its games against Las Vegas (March 14), Orange County (March 21), New Mexico (March 28) and Spokane Velocity in the Open Cup (April 1). After that last match, he pledged to stop the errors and the Switchbacks haven’t conceded late since.  

BW: Let’s talk about the attack. A few in the Rapids Community have a soft spot for Yosuke Hanya. How’s he doing this season? And USL journeyman Khori Bennett has 8 goals in 9 games in his first season at the club. Talk about him.  

HJ: The qualities that stand out to me when I watch Yosuke Hanya play are his speed, his tenacity, and his playmaking ability. He’s all over the field, creating chances for the club and making defenders’ lives miserable. 

Since 2021, the Switchbacks have employed a high-press, aggressive style that suits Hanya perfectly.  The team is always looking to pressure its opponent. If the other team stops one chance, the Switchbacks immediately try to make them stop another. That relentless mentality plays to Hanya’s strengths. 

He hasn’t made a lot of noise in the stats column with just one assist in regular season play but he fits the club’s mentality like a glove. 

Bennett has been the perfect answer for a club that was in dire need of a capable striker. They’re working on getting him more chances in open play and he had a couple of those go in for him two weeks ago. 

He’s currently in the league’s Golden Boot race so he’s off to a good start. 

BW: Matt Mahoney’s on track to set a few club records this year as captain. How’s he doing leading the defense this season? What’s left for him to do to cement his legacy as a Switchbacks legend? 

HJ: I’m speaking with him this week so I should have more but he’s been what he’s been for the last six seasons and that’s a steadfast presence on an improving back line. As for what he has left to accomplish there isn’t much except to advance in the Open Cup or contend for the Prinx Tires USL Cup.

BW: Rapids fans jumped on the bandwagon in 2024 but there’s been squad turnover since then. Give me one player who wasn’t on the team in 2024 for fans to watch out for on Wednesday. Who’s a potential X Faction? 

HJ: Hard not to Say Masereka or Bennett. I also love the aggressive play I’ve seen from midfielders Brennan Creek and Sam Williams.

BW: I see there’s a few coach buses making the trip Wednesday on I-25 rush hour traffic. They could be louder than the 500-ish Rapids fans. Third meeting all-time between the clubs, all Open Cup. First meeting since 2016. I feel like most Rapids sickos identify as Switchbacks fans. We’re calling this the I-25 Derby, but is it really a rivalry? Are we all friends? What do you make of this game?

HJ: It may be akin to a sibling rivalry. Speaking with a fan who was at both of the first two games, he said the Rapids felt like the big brother, especially in the first game. At the time, COS was just starting out and beginning to establish itself as a club. Back then, there was challenge getting the people of Colorado Springs to realize that there was a new professional soccer team. 

Now, with a downtown stadium and a league title, the Switchbacks are much more established and much better than they were the last time they “wrestled” with older brother.

He also noted that several of the early Trailiheads folks were members of Centennial 38

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