GREENVILLE, Pitt County — A Greenville high school needs new football helmets after someone in their 40s stole them on Saturday, August 10.

While the investigation is ongoing, JH Rose High School is desperately trying to acquire new helmets in time for the start of football season.

The players are preparing for a training game tonight.

Athletic Director Clay Medlin tells us they had to give helmets to the players on the JV football team.

A total of 45 helmets were stolen over the weekend. According to athletic director Clay Medlin, each helmet was worth around $500. That means more than $22,000 worth of equipment was lost.

“The school system and the district have already started helping us procure and replace some of these helmets. So I don’t know what the total cost will be in the future,” says sports director Clay Medlin.

In the meantime, Medlin said, many college football players had to borrow helmets from the youth teams.

However, he wants to remain optimistic.

“We already have new helmets on their way, so hopefully we will get them early to mid next week and be able to play our first scheduled game next Friday,” says Medlin.

For the players, Medlin is convinced that such an experience can be demoralizing.

SOT (Sports Director Clay Medlin)

“Very, very devastated. These guys have been training since the first week of June and two months later they’re very excited to finally get back on the field and train. I think the first thought was, ‘Oh no, we’re never going to be able to play again.'” says Medlin. “It’s human nature to jump to conclusions and always expect the worst case scenario, but we have assured all players and school officials that we will do everything we can to get them on the field as quickly as possible.”

Greenville police say they have some leads, but the investigation is still ongoing.