By By STEVEN WINE, AP Sports Writer
MIAMI — For much of the Orange Bowl, the high-powered Louisville Cardinals were stalled in neutral.
They blew a field goal, lost two fumbles and dropped a potential touchdown pass. But despite the rash of mistakes, there was no stopping the Cardinals from their first major-bowl victory in 15 years.
Anthony Allen scored two touchdowns, one on a trick play, and Brian Brohm threw for 311 yards to lead Louisville past Wake Forest 24-13 Tuesday night.
The Cardinals averaged 39 points and ranked second in the nation in total offense this season, but fell behind 13-10 in the final period before their offense went into high gear. Touchdown drives of 81 and 71 yards on consecutive possessions sealed their first win in a major bowl since the 1991 Fiesta Bowl.
No. 5 Louisville finished 12-1 to ensure the highest final ranking in school history. The No. 15 Demon Deacons slipped to 11-3, still their best season.
For three quarters, squandered opportunities plagued the Cardinals. They lost two fumbles in Wake Forest territory, Mario Urrutia dropped a potential 62-yard touchdown pass, and Art Carmody — the Lou Groza Award winner — was wide right on a 32-yard field goal attempt, only his fourth miss this season.