Many political leaders south of the border saw their ambitions derailed by the October surprise – a late-stage event or revelation that upended the November results. This year, the long-decided race for CFL Game of the Year may have seen one of its own.
BC Lions defensive back Robert Carter Jr. was destined for that crown after he took to the air against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Week 8, going viral for a one-handed diving interception in the end zone. The stunning play remained the undisputed highlight of the season for 11 weeks until Winnipeg's Ontaria Wilson drew international attention with an incredible juggling touchdown last Saturday.
While momentum and recency bias are now on Wilson's side, Carter isn't ready to admit defeat just yet.
“It’s a really good game, but I feel like my game was more of pure athleticism,” the rookie DB said. 3DownNation This week. “Making the interception, catching the ball, doing his job. I think for him it was more of a – I don't want to call it luck because he had to be 100 percent focused on the ball – but I feel like it wasn't like a routine play. I feel like mine was more like a routine play that's not normal to see.”
The Blue Bombers trailed by two touchdowns with less than two minutes remaining in their Week 19 matchup with the Edmonton Elks when Zach Collaros targeted Wilson in the end zone. The ball missed double coverage but bounced off two defenders before the sophomore receiver dove through the pile and bounced the ball off the turf twice with his outstretched arm before reeling it in.
Ontario Wilson took the ball to himself for an incredible touchdown! 👀@WestJet Thanksgiving weekend
📅: @Wpg_BlueBombers vs Elks RIGHT NOW
🇨🇦: TSN
🌎: CFL+#CFLGameday pic.twitter.com/NckH7WVfOU— CFL (@CFL) October 12, 2025
BC head coach Buck Pierce, who was Winnipeg's offensive coordinator during Wilson's rookie season, couldn't hide his smile when asked about the game.
“I saw it. It's a damn good play,” he grinned. “I think it's fantastic to highlight our players in this league internationally. Pokey is a great athlete, a fantastic receiver, a good teammate. I'm glad he's playing like that, but it doesn't surprise me.”
Carter doesn't dispute any of these points, but he believes the impressive nature of Wilson's catch had as much to do with chance and circumstance as it did with actual skill.
“It was definitely a lucky bounce because the ball could have been dead at any moment,” he insisted. “To be honest, because DBS didn't want to take the ball away, it just gave him a chance to keep concentrating on the ball. It's a really good game, but it's not a routine game at all.”
In his opinion, the more impressive achievement is not the one that is almost impossible to repeat, but the one that dozens of players have the opportunity to accomplish every week but are physically unable to copy. The interception, which he called “The Trick”, is an expression of pure skill that is still inaccessible to most.
ROBERT CARTER JR. ARE YOU KIDDING ME! WHAT A CHOICE! 🤯🤯#CFLGameDay
🗓️: Tiger Cats vs. @BCLions LIVE NOW
🇨🇦: TSN
🌎: CFL+ pic.twitter.com/VxwiMS2gHn— CFL (@CFL) July 28, 2025
Carter believes he is one of the few players in the world who can cover that distance in a single leap and still control the ball, as evidenced by the fact that he produced an eerily similar performance at Robert Morris University.
“I’ll do it again,” he said. “I've done it twice. I don't think I'll be shocked if I do it a third time.”
Pearce has no doubt in his man's ability to carry on those conversations as he witnesses it every day in training.
“Robert is an incredible talent,” he said. “He makes plays like this all the time, so I see it all the time.”
It would be unsurprising that Pearce would lean towards his current player's achievements if he had to choose the defining game of the 2025 campaign, but warns there is still great football to be played. With two weeks left in the regular season and the playoffs on the horizon, anything can happen.
“This league is filled with exceptional, world-class talent. I wouldn't be surprised if there are more exciting games this year,” Pearce said.
“It's amazing for me as a football fan. It's so exciting to see in a league that I think is filled with superstars.”
After all, game of the year is nothing more than an honorary title, rewarded with top ratings on end-of-season highlight reels. Carter and Wilson have succeeded in raising the profile of the CFL while giving fans something to debate in the coming months.
