Football means family for Bok's Kralle

IN A SPORT such as football, where camaraderie is so important, every player likes to think of his team as a family.

If anyone can identify . . .

Say hello to Robert Kralle, a 6-2, 245-pound senior, inside linebacker and fullback for Edward Bok Tech, which on Saturday, at noon at the South Philly Super Site, will meet West Catholic for the Class AA City Title.

Frank "Roscoe" Natale is not only Kralle's coach. For a 2-month stint beginning late last February, he served as his emergency father.

Almost 2 months earlier, Kralle, a standout student, had been forced to leave Ss. Neumann-Goretti for financial reasons. Then living a few blocks away, he had often visited the Natales' home because of his friendship with their son, Blaise, a player at N-G.

So, when a family emergency left Kralle with no options, at least if he wanted to remain in Philly, he popped up on the Natales' doorstep, summoned all the necessary courage and asked whether Roscoe would be able to help him.

Indeed. In not-surprising, giant-sized fashion.

After all, as Kralle would later learn, Natale was the guy who, in 2006, had donated a kidney to a good buddy from his days at West Catholic, Rick Pergolini.

"One day at a football meeting, I mentioned to coach Natale that I had some worries about a family situation," Kralle said yesterday, standing outside the Wildcats' locker room, maybe a half-hour before the start of practice. "He said if I wound up needing his help, just come to him.

"When those worries came true, I went to his house and he welcomed me right in. I was pretty upset. He told me to get my rest, then we'd talk about everything. I explained the situation and he said, right away, 'Go grab your stuff. You're moving in.' He fed me. Took care of me. Just like I was his own son. It goes to show, there really are good-spirited people."

Kralle (kuh-rell-ee) has extended family members in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., so he could have moved there. But he loved Philly, and especially his new friends at Bok, so he was thrilled when Natale's kindness allowed him to stay.

Blessed with a strong upper body, Kralle has become a powerful, teeth-rattling hitter for a squad that last week used a late rally to best Imhotep Charter, 22-19, for the Public League AA crown.

Also, he has continued to be fascinated by all things Roscoe.

"I've never met a more energetic man in my life," Kralle said. "Since we were basically brothers, Blaise would always wake me up for school. Coach Natale was already up, moving around, raring to go. He's nonstop.

"You see how he helps the players on the field, but when you're around him all day and night, you realize he carries that off the field, too."

When asked whether he could think of a special memory from his time with the Natales (Kathy was the emergency mom), he paused for a moment and then blurted out, "Well, the first time I ate salmon was with him."

Bok's defense, guided by longtime assistant Vince Trombetta, Ben Franklin's back-in-the-day head coach, includes ends Jihad Ward and Vittorio Goggins, tackles Marqui Alfriend and Mark Webb, inside linebackers Terrell Miles and Kralle, outside linebackers Michael Riley and Omar Bashir, cornerbacks Marquise Brown and Christen Lilly and safety Antoine Whitney.

The Wildcats have pitched four shutouts (five, counting a forfeit; not that anyone would) and only twice allowed double-digit points.

By now, Kralle feels completely comfortable with his new teammates. Did long ago, actually.

"The first couple days [last winter], everybody was crowding around me, trying to figure out who I was and where I came from," he said. "By August, I knew for sure, 'This place is really decent.' We have our fights on this team. Our ups and downs. Just like any team. But these kids would do everything for me, just as I would for them.

"Comparing this with the Catholic League, there's much more speed and raw potential here. And these kids are fighting for much more. They get overlooked. They're striving to get their names out there. They don't get the same scholarship opportunities that just kind of pop up in Catholic schools.

"Whether you're on SEPTA or just walking around, you're always hearing trash talk or 'good luck.' There's so much passion."

Natale described Kralle - his family situation has stabilized; he now lives on Cross near 8th in South Philly - as the perfect houseguest.

Natale loves the respect Kralle shows for his teammates and elders, and loves that he does so well in school (3.1 GPA, 1,740 on the three-part SAT). Now, he's trying to spread the word to college coaches.

Meanwhile, Kralle, who envisions pursuing a career in anything from sports marketing to marine biology, has been known to provide occasional entertainment.

"I have a tendency to make tackles wearing just one spike," he said. "The right one usually falls off - I like the real low ones - and there I am, running around in one spike and one sock."

Aside from the basic nurturing, Kralle received tremendous extra support from the Natales last March. Two days apart, Robert lost his grandmother, Judy Scena, who'd basically raised him, and a best friend/soccer player from Egg Harbor Township High, Ashley Reich.

"I'm playing this season for them," he said. "My grandmom was the best. And to lose a friend who's so young, that really wakes you up. You start to realize, this is your last year of high school football. Have to make it special."

For himself, and just as much for his coach/ex-"dad."

"I could never thank him enough," Kralle said.

Online high school coverage at philly.com/rally.