WINSTON-SALEM, NC – It’s hard to be a glass half-full kind of guy when you find out that your 4th-year starting quarterback won’t be available for an extended period of time because of a medical condition.

But if there was reason for Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson to feel fortunate when star Sam Hartman was sidelined, it’s that it happened during the first week of preseason camp rather than the last.

Hartman’s early absence gave inexperienced backup Mitch Griffis plenty of time to prepare for his role as the Deacons’ QB1, even if it’s just as a place-holder until Hartman returns.

That preparation showed Thursday as Griffis turned in a poised performance in leading Wake to a season-opening 44-10 rout of VMI at Truist Field.

While the meshes in the Deacons’ RPO offense weren’t always as smooth as usual and there were a few hiccups along the way, Griffis acquitted himself well in his first career start by completing 21-of-29 passes for 288 yards and 3 touchdowns.

It’s still anybody’s guess as to when or if Hartman will return to the lineup. But until he does, Wake’s high-powered offense appears to be in capable hands.

“There was nothing good about Sam’s situation other than if it had happened yesterday or two days ago, it would have been much tougher,” Clawson said. “As the backup, you have to be ready to go in at a moment’s notice. But I think for any football player, (it’s a lot easier) if you know two weeks, three weeks ahead of time and get all those reps with the ones.”

Both the practice time and his natural ability were especially evident late in the opening quarter on the first of his three touchdown passes.

Rolling to his right on a 3rd-and-4 play from the VMI 23, Griffis let fly with a laser to Taylor Morin in the corner of the end zone. It was a spectacular diving catch for which Morin drew praise.

To hear the sophomore receiver tell it, the key to the play wasn’t the catch. It was the pinpoint throw.

“I wasn’t sure where Mitch was going to put the ball,” he said. “Mitch put it in the only place he could. It was a perfect ball and I was able to get fully extended. Mitch threw a heck of a pass.”

That one pass aside, Griffis’ effort was more workmanlike than spectacular. If Drake Maye’s debut at North Carolina last Saturday was a splash, this was more of a ripple.

But that’s what Clawson liked so much about it.

There were no interceptions. No delay of game penalties. No panicked throws into traffic.

While Griffis admitted afterward to suffering from an early case of the nerves, it didn’t show. He led his team to scores on its first 3 drives and put points on the board on every trip into the red zone.

He spread the ball around to 7 receivers and got plenty of help from running backs Christian Turner and Justice Ellison, who combined for 180 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground while averaging 7 yards per carry

While the Deacons did have a touchdown and a 2-point conversion nullified by offensive penalties, they were through no fault of their replacement quarterback. As solid as his final numbers were, the most impressive aspect of his performance was the veteran poise with which he took care of his business.

Or as his coach put it, “he played pretty clean football.”

For Griffis, it was just a lot of fun after throwing only 15 passes in his first 2 seasons at Wake.

“It was the first time I’ve played real football since high school,” he said.

The fun figures to be progressively tougher to come by from here on in. Assuming he’s still the starter next week, he’ll graduate from facing an FCS defense that allowed an average of 33 points and 443 yards per game last season to a Power 5 defense on the road.

Yes, it’s Vanderbilt. But at last check, the Commodores are still an SEC program. If he passes that test, there’s an even tougher exam to come with preseason ACC favorite Clemson looming in 3 weeks.

There’s a good chance that by that time, Griffis will be back on the sidelines watching Hartman run the offense again. No matter what, his performance Thursday night was encouraging enough for Clawson to move forward with a glass half-full attitude toward his team’s chances.

No matter when the young quarterback will be called upon to run the team again.

“I said going into it, I think we can win a lot of games with Mitch,” Clawson said. “For him to get this experience and be able to play, whether it’s next week, in two weeks or next year, it’s money in the bank.”