Although starter Zach Durfee was sidelined due to injury, Holtzclaw was a little-used edge rusher in this game and appeared as a third-team player on the depth chart that was handed out before the game. And he seemed to be lower in the rotation that night.

Voi Tunuufi and Alphonzo Tuputala, former defensive tackle and normally linebacker respectively, opened the game as starters.

As the game progressed, Isaiah Ward, Jacob Lane, Jayden Wayne and Deshawn Lynch each took turns on the sidelines.

Holtzclaw simply watched.

He stood on the sideline while Moss remained untouched for most of the game, stood well protected in the pocket and completed 30 of 50 passes for 293 yards and two scores without suffering the indignity of a sack.

It's entirely possible that the coaches want Holtzclaw, a speed-rush specialist who has played in all nine UW games so far, to be a little stronger and heavier to give the run a head start before using him in a more focused manner.

He only has three tackles all season, including a sack against Eastern Michigan.

But on this night, the Huskies needed a player who describes himself as “Showtime” to be closer, more like a short story than a full-length feature, to make the difference in just one game.

“The fact that we put him on fourth down with fresh legs and great pass-rush skills and he just got past the tackle and the quarterback, what a finish to the game,” Fisch said. “There’s no better way to end the game.”

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