Huntington linebacker Ethan Lawless wins Rob Burnett Award
Ethan Lawless of Huntington in a Suffolk Division II matchup against Hills East on Saturday September 13, 2025. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
Ethan Lawless has all the physical qualities required to be a great linebacker. At 6-2, 220 pounds, the Huntington senior is strong and has the speed to run sideline to sideline.
But Lawless plays with a ferocity that strikes fear into opposing offenses.
“We want gangbusters on defense,” Huntington coach Ron Wilson said. “We want guys that are going to come downhill, make tackles, not afraid to shed blocks and get in there. Ethan is that guy. He’s going to get down and dirty in the trenches and cause a ruckus.”
Lawless wreaked havoc all year. Huntington’s middle linebacker totaled 87 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception to help the Blue Devils achieve a 7-3 record and reach the Suffolk Division II semifinals.
Lawless received Newsday’s 15th annual Rob Burnett Award as Suffolk’s Defensive Player of the Year at Monday night’s Suffolk County Football Coaches Association dinner at the Hyatt Regency in Hauppauge.
The other finalists were Michael Cascione of Smithtown West, Jake Rivera of Floyd, Greyson Cabrera of Northport and Jovan Bonilla of East Islip.
After playing defensive end and outside linebacker last year, Lawless was tasked with moving to middle linebacker and becoming the defense’s signal caller this season.
“He quarterbacked the defense from the preseason on,” Wilson said. “What helped us tremendously defensively was his athleticism and his smarts to be the signal caller, putting defensive linemen in the right place and telling them what they have to do.”
Lawless announced his presence in Huntington’s season-opening 28-14 win over Half Hollow Hills East, which was the preseason top seed in Suffolk II. He had 13 tackles, including five for a loss, and two sacks.
“He was a little skeptical about playing the middle, but I think once he saw that he could actually read the play and make the play and put pressure on quarterbacks that want to drop back, it gave him a confidence boost,” Wilson said.
It wasn’t long before opposing teams took notice.
“Teams had to game plan for him,” Wilson said. “There were times when teams sent two or three guys after him because he’s hard to block.”
During Huntington’s 16-14 loss to Northport in Week 6, Wilson shifted Lawless to outside linebacker to combat the Tigers’ size on the edge. He had two sacks and a fumble recovery.
“He’s an incredibly good tackler,” Northport coach Pat Campbell said. “Once he gets to the point he needs to get to, you’re going down. He’s not missing on tackles. He’s very physical and strong.”
Lawless made sure his presence was felt each week.
“Some guys roll tackle you. Some guys drag you down,” Campbell said. “He’s a physical tackler. When he tackles you, you know you just got tackled.”
Matt Lindsay is a high school sports reporter who joined Newsday in 2022 after graduating from Stony Brook University.
