LA VERGNE – La Vergne is going to a place it hasn’t been in eight years — the high school football playoffs.

The Wolverines routed Siegel 56-23 Thursday night at Freedom Field to secure the program’s first playoff berth in eight seasons and fourth trip overall in the school’s 26-year history.

“I’m glad to be back,” said La Vergne coach Stanton Stevens, who won a state title at Austin-East and reached the state final with Oak Ridge before going to La Vergne in 2010.

Stevens was doused with a bucket of ice water by his players after the game.

La Vergne running back RoShea Grays rushed for a school-record 323 yards on 26 carries and scored three touchdowns to lead the Wolverines’ offense, which finished with 507 total yards.

“We had to step up, and it started with the men up front,” said Grays. “We’re coming into the playoffs, and we are getting some victories.”

La Vergne (5-5, 2-4 7-AAA) clinched the program’s first Class 6A playoff in the Wolverines’ final year in the state’s largest classification. La Vergne, which was the smallest school in next year’s proposed 6A, opted to drop down to 5A starting next season to allow Maryville to move up to 6A.

Siegel (3-7) was eliminated from playoff contention with the loss. The TSSAA will announce playoff pairings on Saturday morning.

The playoff appearance is the Wolverines’ first since it reached the second round of the 2006 Class 5A playoffs.

Siegel played without leading rusher Greedy Howse, who had to sit out because of an ejection last week. A La Vergne player and a Siegel player were ejected late in the game. Names were not confirmed at press time.

Leading 27-3 at halftime, Siegel trimmed the deficit to 27-10 on Jordan Middleton’s 5-yard TD run. But La Vergne countered. Grays ripped off a 52-yard TD run. Then Princeton Fant reeled in Drew Howard’s 13-yard pass to make it 42-10.

Andrew Knox and brother Andre Knox had back-to-back TDs to cut it to 42-23 with 9:37 left. But Grays scored on an 8-yard TD run and Gulecy Buni added a 10-yard TD run with 1:05 left.

Howard competed 4 of 8 passes for 99 yards, hitting Quin Jernighan three times for 86 yards.

Middleton completed 18 of 32 passes for 281 yards with two TDs and two INTs. Andre Knox had 95 yards on 17 carries. Andrew Knox had six catches for 118 yards and Marcus Wilson had six catches for 106 yards for the Stars.