The Mathews High School varsity football team dropped its regular season finale on Friday night to the visiting Middlesex Chargers, 38-7.

In spite of the loss, the 2-8 Blue Devils have earned a playoff bid and will advance to the first round of the Class 1, Region A tournament on Friday, with Mathews (the eighth seed) traveling to the top-seeded Essex Trojans (9-1), with a 7 p.m. kickoff.

“It was our seniors’ last game ever on the Mathews High School football field,” said MHS head coach C.J. Kelly. “They fought hard and we felt for them as the time expired. Now it’s a new season. It’s playoff time. We are excited to be in this position.”

Before the opening kickoff on Friday night, Mathews High School paid tribute to the seniors on its various fall teams, as well as the cheerleading squad and band.

Middlesex opened the scoring midway through the opening quarter on a keeper from QB Matthew Hart. The Devils had a chance to tie it up wi...