NORMAL — Aaron Ball is betting on himself.

The senior running back made his final appearance in a St. Laurence uniform Friday night — five days after verbally accepting an offer to play at Illinois as a preferred walk-on.

While Ball did have full-ride offers from Western Michigan and South Dakota, he’s rolling the dice that he can help the Illini and eventually land a scholarship in Champaign.

“That’s 100% my attitude,” said Ball, a 6-foot, 205-pound workhorse. “I just know how I am as a player, my dedication and hard work. It’s going to push me to that one step higher.

“I know if I go in there and work, my discipline and talent will take me one step above.”

Ball took another step at Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium, finishing off his high school career with 160 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 26 carries in a 59-38 loss to Rochester in the Class 4A state championship game.

It was the first time since 1979 that the Vikings (10-4) made it to the final. Evan Les threw for 138 yards and a TD to Rob Francis and also ran for two TDs, while Collin Bagley kicked a 30-yard field goal.

Bryan Zulauf passed for 178 yards and three TDs for Rochester (14-0), which won its ninth state tittle. Nolan Mrozowski ran for 132 yards and two TDs and Parker Gillespie ran for two TDs.

Ball, meanwhile, knows he has something to prove at Illinois. And he’s ready to get going.

“The whole thing is working for it and establishing a relationship with the coaches,” Ball said. “I’m going to show those coaches I’m reliable, and I’ll take it one day at a time.”

It has been a theme for Ball his entire time at St. Laurence.

Last season, he collided with a Joliet Catholic player in the sixth game of the regular season and was taken off the field on a stretcher. He did not have feeling in his legs.

Thankfully, that returned upon his arrival the hospital, but he had a concussion and saw limited time in 2022 after that.

Heading into his senior year, Ball wanted to make a difference, and he did.

Ball ended up with 1,644 yards and 22 TDs, helping to turn a team that had three straight losing seasons into one that finished second in the state.

“This year was a good season, I can say that,” he said. “I reflect on it, and I’m not too disappointed in our season. We went 3-6 last year, and I knew the guys in the room were good athletes.

“It was a matter of buying in. From June 18, we said we were going to compete for the state title.”

Led by Ball, St. Laurence’s offense was solid Friday night, producing 346 yards.

But the Rockets, who came in averaging 419.5 yards and 51.5 points a game, kept gaining and scoring to the tune of 492 yards and 59 points.

“I’m extremely proud of these guys and I love them like they’re my sons,” St. Laurence coach Adam Nissen said. “I wish we could have won it.

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“But I don’t think that takes away from anything that we’ve done this year.”

Senior defensive back Corey Taubr said the Vikings had an underdog mentality and the players used it to their advantage.

“We loaded up on momentum and we had some huge games,” he said. “We rode the momentum off some of the big wins we had against Immaculate Conception and Wheaton Academy.”

Although Ball will be in Champaign next fall, he believes the Vikings have the ability to build upon this momentum for the future.

“I feel like they will be back next year,” Ball said of the underclassmen. “The thing is they have to find that groove like we did, find that leadership, and do the same thing.

“Work and believe.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelancer reporter for the Daily Southtown.