Forget all the “a loss can be a good thing” nonsense.

Josh Smith and the Rolla High School football team hate to lose. And Smith’s first defeat as a head coach last Friday was a costly and bitter one.

But Smith says what’s done is done, and the Bulldogs can now take lessons learned and apply them to their playoff run.

Rolla takes a 9-1 record into tonight’s Missouri Class 5 Regional playoff road game against Washington.

Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at the Washington High School Field. The Washington Blue Jays come into the game with a 7-3 mark.

The winner of the Rolla/Washington matchup will advance to Class 5 Sectional action at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9 at Parkway North. Parkway North received a first-round bye and will bring a 8-1 record into sectional competition.

The Bulldogs missed their chance at a regional bye -- and an undefeated regular season -- then they were beaten on the road by District 6 and Ozark Conference rival Camdenton 21-13 last week. The win gave Camdenton, 7-3, the District 6 title and a regional bye. The Lakers will host the Nixa/Raytown winner in sectional play Nov. 9.