VANCOUVER — Even though he made one of the biggest plays of the game, BC Lions defenseman Robert Carter Jr. still regretted it.
Carter picked off a pass from Cody Fajardo early in the third quarter and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown as the Lions overcame a deficit to score 25 straight points in a 37-24 victory that knocked the Edmonton Elks out of the CFL playoffs on Friday night.
Carter was so excited to give the Lions a 17-10 lead that he threw the ball into the stands.
“I didn’t have to throw the ball into the stands,” he said afterward. “I really regret it now.”
Lions head coach Buck Pierce called the interception the turning point of the game.
“Great read and jump,” Pierce said. “Once he does that, no one will catch him.”
In the fourth quarter, Carter made one of the biggest hits of the game, using his shoulder pads to knock down Elks wide receiver Curly Gittens Jr.
At five feet nine inches tall and 175 pounds, Carter gave Gittens about two inches and 15 pounds.
“He’s had a couple of those hits this year,” Pierce said. “He’s always around football if you watch him.”
Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke showed off his running ability by turning a bad play in the third quarter into a 70-yard touchdown.
Rourke faked a pass and prepared to pass the ball. Not seeing anyone open, he pulled the ball and raced down the right sideline, where he passed several Elks and entered the end zone for a 27-10 lead.
“I just reacted and tried to get away,” said Rourke, who finished the night completing 21 of 32 passes for 338 yards, a touchdown and an interception. “It's one of those things they teach that if it's not there, follow the run. That's where the run ended up.”
The Lions won their fifth straight game, improving to 10–7 and moving into second place in the CFL West.
The Elks had their two-game winning streak snapped and fell to 7–10, last in the West and out of the playoffs. Edmonton led 10-2 midway through the second quarter.
Edmonton hoped to have the lead early in the game, but the Lions' strong defense led to turnovers and mistakes.
“We haven't played enough games,” Edmonton head coach Mark Killam said. “We suffered from explosions against us and turned the ball over.
“The pick-six, big quarterback move hurt us. It's a very impulsive play.”
Lions running back James Butler ran for a touchdown and converted the two-point conversion. He finished the night with 15 carries for 82 yards.
Senior Keon Hatcher caught a 17-yard touchdown.
Kicker Shaun White kicked field goals of 37 and 34 yards.
Lions linebacker Ben Hladlik also sacked Fajardo in the end zone for a safety.
Fajardo completed 19 of 34 passes for 230 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. He scored on a 15-yard run in the final minute of the game.
Running back Javon Leake scored on a short run, while wide receiver Binjimen Victor caught a 12-yard touchdown.
Vincent Blanchard added a 45-yard field goal.
Earlier on Friday, the Saskatchewan Roughriders lost to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 17-16. The West-ranked Riders are 12-5, while the Bombers improved to 9-8, leaving them fourth in the conference and in position to at least make the crossover playoffs.
With this win, the Lions are in control of their own destiny heading into the final week of the season. They can wrap up second place in the West and a home playoff game with a win in their final game.
“It’s a really good feeling,” Carter said. “But we have set a goal for ourselves. I don't think making the playoffs is what we want to achieve.
“We want to finish our last game with the Gray Cup in the air.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2025.
