ELIZABETHTOWN - The Southeastern Conference champion East Bladen Eagles climbed to 11-0 Friday night with a 50-8 victory over visiting East Columbus in the opening round of the state 1AA high-school football playoffs.

East Columbus, which closed its season with a 3-8 record, got its only score on 28-yard pass interception return by Chad Malpass in the second quarter. Gerard Bullock scored a two-point conversion to cut the East Bladen lead to 28-8.

Coach Lenon Fisher’s East Bladen squad led 35-8 at halftime.

Eagle back Donovan Richardson rushed for 149 yards on 14 carries, including touchdown runs of 3, 28 and 53 yard. Flanker Mike Smith returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown and caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Dom Whittington. Defensive back Tripp Lancaster returned a pass interception 36 yards for a touchdown and kicked six extra points.

East Bladen will play host to two-time defending Eastern N.C. 1AA champion Wallace-Rose Hill (11-1) this Friday night at 7:30. Coach Jack Holley’s Bulldogs advanced by defeating Northampton East 34-0 in first-round play.

Coach Travis Conner’s East Columbus team closed the 2006 season with a 3-8 record, the Gators’ best finish since 2003.

East Columbus finished with a 2-4 record in Waccamaw 1A-2A Conference play to tie North Brunswick and South Brunswick for fourth place in the conference standings.