For just 10 bucks a pop, the moms of junior high and high school St. Regis football players had the opportunity to tackle their sons last Wednesday afternoon. 

The annual Moms in Pads fundraiser was held on Oct. 15 to raise funds for maintenance on the team's helmets. Over a dozen mamas sported damp and smelly football pads and jerseys to playfully take down their sons on a mat in the middle of the football field. If the players flinched or tried to move, moms got a redo. 

Helmets need to be reconditioned every two to three years, when companies professionally inspect them for cracks, damaged padding, or any loose hardware. Sometimes a helmet is deemed irreparable; in that case, a new helmet must be purchased for the player at a cost of around $400. Helmet reconditioning is important because it ensures player safety by restoring a helmet's structural integrity, sanitizes equipment, and prolongs its lifespan at a lower cost than buying new. 

This was the St. Regis football program's third year of hosting Moms in Pads; the turnout was great for donations towards the helmets, as well as the entertainment for those watching.

    Freshman Chet Hill braces for impact as his mom, Tina Hill, rushes toward him. (Mineral Independent/Amy Quinlivan)
  

    Jen Cheesman gets ready to take Sterling Gray down. (Mineral Independent/Amy Quinlivan)