GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – Football season is just around the corner for high schools across eastern Carolina, but one school’s team is dealing with a helmet heist.

Greenville police were called to J. H. Rose High School on Saturday for a break-in Friday night. 45 football helmets, which together cost about $22,500, were taken from the Ronald S. Vincent Athletic Fieldhouse on campus. With the Rampants season kicking off next Friday in a game against New Hanover High School, J.H. Rose’s athletic director Clay Medlin knew they needed a game plan.

“This is never a good time for anything like this to happen, but this is pretty bad timing. We’ve got new helmets on the way,” said Medlin, “For the meantime, we’re going to use some JV helmets to fit the varsity guys, borrow some helmets from some other places and just try to makeshift the best we can for the next week and a half before we can get our helmets here to outfit the guys.”

Head coach Will Bland says the stolen helmets are newer model helmets that are better for preventing concussions. He said the helmets were stolen from the defensive line’s equipment but a few of the offensive line’s were taken as well.

Police say no arrests have been made, but they do have leads that could help with the investigation. The team is disappointed with the loss, but the coaches are hopeful this is just a minor setback, and they’ll have their new helmets just in time for Friday night lights next week.

“The guys have been working for the last two to three months trying to get ready for the season,” said Coach Bland. “I told my guys, ‘Hey, it’s just a curveball. We’ll get through this, and we’ll be back on the playing field and play for at least a shot in the state championship.’”

The Pitt-Greenville Crime Stoppers urges anyone with information related to the break-in to call them at (252) 758-7777. Officials say reward money is available for information that leads to an arrest, and information can be provided anonymously.