PITTSBURGH — Ray Graham saw a Temple linebacker closing in, planted his feet on the wet Heinz Field turf and came to a complete stop before veering right and darting down the sideline as the defender stumbled to the ground.

In a flash, any lingering concerns the Pitt running back had about his surgically repaired right knee vanished. Graham’s dazzling sprint through a sea of Owls set up his third touchdown in a dominant 47-17 victory on Saturday that gave the Panthers a welcome confidence boost.

“That was the old Ray Graham,” Pitt wide receiver Devin Street said. “I came back to him and said, `You’re back baby.’ It’s great to see him play like that. We feed off of that.”

Graham finished with 180 yards of total offense — 109 rushing and 71 receiving — as the Panthers (4-4, 1-3) finally broke through after starting their last season in the Big East with three straight losses.

Pitt did it behind Graham. A year removed from a torn ACL that cut short his junior season, Graham gashed the Owls (3-4, 2-2) for two rushing touchdowns and added 4-yard scoring grab just before the end of the first half that gave Pitt a commanding 31-7 lead.

Though he’s been a vital part of the offense all season, Graham admits he’s still working his way back into shape. He ditched a knee brace three weeks ago and the protective sleeve he currently wears could soon follow.

“I definitely feel real good,” said Graham, who moved into fifth on Pitt’s all-time rushing list after the ninth 100-yard game of his career. “I just feel different. (The knee) felt a lot better and from here on out that’s what I think you’re going to see.”