CINCINNATI (AP) - Brian Brohm led Louisville on a 98-yard touchdown drive after a goal-line stand Saturday, sparking the Cardinals to a 46-22 victory over second-guessed Cincinnati.

The Cardinals (5-2, 1-2) got their first Big East victory a week after a triple-overtime loss to West Virginia knocked them out of the Top 25 and dashed their hopes for a breakthrough bowl appearance.

Instead, they had to dig out of their dejection against Cincinnati (3-4, 1-2), which pulled every trick out of its playbook to stay close. Ultimately, the Bearcats chose the wrong plays with a chance to pull ahead just before halftime.

Brohm was 21-of-26 for 303 yards and two touchdowns, another high-percentage game for one of the nation's most efficient passers. Michael Bush ran for 127 yards and three touchdowns, but fumbled three times.

Redshirt quarterback Dustin Grutza caught a pass from a receiver on a reverse, and the Bearcats converted a fake punt to stay with the Cardinals. They trailed 12-7 when the fake punt started a drive to first-and-goal at the 2 late in the first half.

Shifty tailback Greg Moore carried on seven consecutive plays for 48 yards on the drive, then yielded to straight-ahead threat Bradley Glatthaar at the 2. Glatthaar carried twice for losses, and Grutza's third-down pass was intercepted by safety Brandon Sharp.

Fans booed the play calling when the Bearcats came off the field, several players punching the air in frustration that would soon get worse.

All Brohm needed was four throws - all completions - to evaporate Cincinnati's hopes of an upset. He completed passes of 29, 15, 43 and 7 yards, the last one for a touchdown to Harry Douglas that finished off a 1-minute, 48-second drive the length of the field.

Louisville came into the game ranked third in the nation with an average of 47 points per game, but was slow to get rolling. A 23-yard touchdown pass by Brohm was nullified by an illegal formation penalty in the first quarter, and Bush fumbled on the next play. Louisville also missed an extra point and a pair of 2-point conversion tries.

Cincinnati was determined to make up for a 70-7 loss in Louisville last season, but its young defense - five freshmen starters - couldn't keep up. The Cardinals topped 500 yards midway through the fourth quarter.

Douglas, a sophomore playing more because starter Mario Urrutia hurt his knee last week, caught five passes for 87 yards, including a 43-yard reception during the decisive 98-yard drive.

Bush's three touchdown runs gave him 18 for the season, two shy of the school record. The junior has 31 in his career, moving into second place on Louisville's career list.