Its amazing: Community steps up to replace stolen gear for West Caldwell High School football team [Video]

LENOIR, N.C. (WBTV) – When listing the things most necessary to play football, a helmet is probably at the top of the list.

Community support might be a close second.

When the West Caldwell Warriors take to the field for their first game on August 23, they’ll have both. However, not without a few hiccups.

According to Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, sometime between 7:00 p.m. July 21 and 7:00 a.m. July 22, someone broke in to the West Caldwell fieldhouse and stole 23 helmets, some jerseys, and a bag of practice footballs.

“Like what do you do?” head coach Tony Pyland asked. “Felt like somebody just ran over my dog.”

Those helmets were Riddell Speedflexes, which retail for roughly $400-$500 each.

The total damage was nearly $12,000 worth of equipment. To put perspective, the school’s athletics director Aaron Annas says that’s roughly 20% of the school’s entire athletics budget.

“We’re not like some of the other programs I’ve been around,” Pyland said. “They have alternate helmets some places, …