Notre Dame · FBS IndependentsNotre Dame survives Neenah in overtime after 53-point fourth-quarter swing
Kingston Allen carried Notre Dame’s offense through a seven-touchdown night, then helped design the play that ended the game. Neenah erased a 14-point deficit and led by two scores in the fourth quarter before the Tritons forced a field goal and answered with a walk-off touchdown.
AUG 22, 2026
Notre Dame’s overtime final over Neenah.
Kingston Allen’s rushing yards on 39 carries.
Touchdowns Allen scored on the ground.
01 · The NewsWhat Happened
Notre Dame defeated Neenah 56-53 in overtime Aug. 21 at Rocket Stadium after the Tritons turned a fourth-quarter deficit into a late rally. Kingston Allen rushed for 464 yards and seven touchdowns, including scores of 45, 68, 90, 6, 59, 3 and 17 yards. Neenah quarterback Ashton VanBeek powered the Rockets with 265 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns and two touchdown passes. Neenah led 50-36 in the fourth quarter after scoring 28 straight points. Allen’s final two touchdown runs tied the game and sent it to overtime. Neenah scored first in the extra period, but Joey Massey sacked VanBeek and forced a 29-yard field goal. Notre Dame then used Allen as a decoy on a reverse, with Jackson Bouthilet throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Massey for the win.
02 · The StakesWhy This One Matters
Notre Dame found the game’s most valuable player in Allen, but the finish showed why the Tritons needed more than his direct-snap production. His running forced Neenah to account for him on every snap. That attention created the opening for Bouthilet to become the thrower on the decisive play. Neenah answered with its own quarterback-driven attack and flipped a 36-22 third-quarter deficit into a 50-36 lead. VanBeek’s rushing threat kept Notre Dame from settling into a normal defensive picture. The result became a test of response under pressure, and Notre Dame answered after losing control of the middle quarters. Massey supplied the defensive play that gave the Tritons a chance to win instead of merely survive.
03 · The Detail Beneath the HeadlineWhat Most People Are Missing
The overlooked part of the finish is how much Notre Dame’s best play depended on making Allen look predictable. The Tritons had already used a similar action without Allen pitching the ball back, and he recognized that the quarterback would be available on the next version. That created a small pause for Neenah’s defense. Bouthilet’s throw turned it into a touchdown. The same direct-snap package that produced Allen’s huge night also gave Notre Dame a way to move the ball through the air when the defense finally sold out against the runner.
“Massey supplied the defensive play that gave the Tritons a chance to win instead of merely survive.”
The Wire Desk04 · The PersonnelWhat It Changes Going Forward
Notre Dame leaves the game with proof that its offense can win in several forms. Allen can carry the direct-snap game. Bouthilet can become part of the deception instead of standing outside the play. Massey can finish the design as a receiver after making the defensive stop. That gives coach Mike Rader a package that can stress a defense before the snap and punish it after the defense commits. The less comfortable takeaway sits on the other side of the scoreboard. Notre Dame led 36-22, then allowed 28 straight points. Neenah’s comeback turned a controlled game into a one-possession fight and forced the Tritons to produce in overtime. If Notre Dame’s defense allows that kind of downhill quarterback pressure again, Allen’s production may have to stay extraordinary for the offense to keep pace. The next test is whether Notre Dame can protect a lead without needing a final possession.
05 · The ChessboardWhat the Coaches Can Actually Change
The likeliest offensive lever is keeping Allen in the direct-snap package while changing who receives the second phase. Rader called the overtime play a normal naked concept with a flip to the quarterback. In plain terms, Notre Dame made the defense chase Allen first, then sent the ball toward the space created when defenders followed him. Bouthilet’s role can grow from handoff partner to active thrower on those looks. That forces the defense to respect the quarterback without taking Allen out of the package. The risk is predictability. If Neenah’s answer was to crowd the box and stay home on the reverse, Notre Dame would need to vary the launch point or use a quicker throw before the defense resets. The defense, meanwhile, needs a cleaner response to a running quarterback. Massey’s overtime sack showed the value of pressure when the field shortened.
06 · The ThesisThe Pate State Read
Notre Dame won because its best offensive idea survived the game’s worst stretch. The Tritons lost a 14-point lead, then found a way to make Allen the threat Neenah expected while turning Bouthilet into the player Neenah stopped seeing. That’s good coaching from Rader and good recognition from Allen. Neenah deserves credit for forcing the issue with VanBeek and for scoring 28 straight when Notre Dame’s defense couldn’t get the game back under control. The concern is just as specific. A team that gives away that much ground after halftime leaves itself no room for an ordinary finish. Notre Dame has the playmakers to win a shootout. The better version of this team won’t need one every week.
07 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching
Can Notre Dame defend a quarterback-led run game earlier?
Neenah’s comeback centered on VanBeek’s rushing threat and exposed the Tritons’ difficulty slowing the game down. The next defensive performance will show whether the overtime stop was a reset or a one-play answer.
How often does Bouthilet throw from the direct-snap package?
The overtime touchdown gives Notre Dame a tested answer when defenses overplay Allen. More frequent quarterback involvement would make the package harder to solve, while limited use would keep the play as a changeup.
Does Allen keep receiving the full workload?
Allen handled a massive share of Notre Dame’s offense in this game. The next game will show whether the staff maintains that usage or spreads the package across more players.