Keepsake after a rookie's first touchdown

GAMEBALL

Think of what a coach might hand to a player as a memento for a standout play—it’s not a trophy or a medal, but something you’d literally hold onto from the field.

In football, a "game ball" is often awarded as a memento to a player after a standout performance, like a rookie scoring their first touchdown. The clue plays on this tradition by calling it a "keepsake," hinting at something meaningful saved from the game. "Rookie" narrows it down to a first-time achievement, and "touchdown" confirms it’s tied to scoring, making "GAMEBALL" the perfect fit.