Running back plays against De La Salle hours after brother dies

CONCORD >> It didn’t matter Friday night that Clayton Valley Charter trailed De La Salle by 42 points in the fourth quarter. The Ugly Eagles had one purpose in mind. They wanted Omari Taylor to score a touchdown.

It had been a long day for Clayton Valley’s junior running back. Early Friday he got the crushing news that his older brother Omar Taylor, 24, had been killed in the Orinda shooting on Halloween night.

Omari Taylor went to school anyway. He spent much of the morning with Clayton Valley head coach Tim Murphy. He spent another couple of hours with tight ends and receiver coach Tom Sparks. Taylor is a student in Sparks’ biology class.

On Friday night, he rushed for 71 yards and caught three passes. But Clayton Valley lost to De La Salle 56-14. Taylor did not score a touchdown.

But when asked by a reporter after the game if he could talk, Taylor quickly responded, “Yes.” Before the game, tears streamed down his cheeks. After it was over, after he spoke briefly to the team, he wore a little bit of a smile.

“Very much,” he replied when asked how important it was for him to play Friday night. “On a scale of one to 10, I’d say it would be a 10.”

Many of the Ugly Eagles’ players had the initials “O.T.” inscribed on their arms, jersey, socks. They kept a close eye on him, like they would a little brother.

“My teammates, my brothers, they said they were going to be there for me,” Taylor said. “It was good. I was surrounded by good people. I stayed with my team.”

Taylor had a close relationship with his older brother. Omar Taylor had played football, too, at El Cerrito High. Murphy didn’t know how much he played or how good he was. But he knew of the close bond between the brothers.

“He was (Omari’s) emotional rock,” Murphy said.

Omar Taylor’s passion was music.

“He was hired to DJ a party,” said Omar Taylor Sr., the father of the two young men. “Wrong place, wrong time.”

Both of Omari Taylor’s parents — Omar Sr. and mother Laneisha Epps — were in attendance at De La Salle Friday night. Murphy was worried about Taylor’s dad. Omar Sr. choked up when he began talking about his deceased son. He turned to his wife and asked her to take over. But he quickly composed himself.

The family learned their son was one of the victims around 3 a.m. on what was now Friday morning. They raced to John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek.

“He was a strong man,” Omari Taylor said of his brother. “He went through a lot of stuff, but he taught me right from wrong. He was one of my biggest influences.”

There was never any question Taylor would play Friday night.

“His brother would have wanted him to play tonight,” Laneisha Epps said.

Omari Taylor addressed the team before the game and after it was over.

“He was pretty emotional,” Murphy said. “The team was really good to him.” Murphy paused.

He’s a really good kid, man,” Murphy said, his voice filled with emotion.

For the record, Clayton Valley Charter finished the regular season 5-5 and will await the North Coast Section seeding meeting on Nov. 10 to find out its Division II playoff fate. A No. 1 or 2 seed is likely.

Taylor will be the No. 1 running back. He has taken over for leading rusher Makhi Gervais, who is no longer with the team, Murphy said.

De La Salle (9-1) is the No. 1 team in the Bay Area Preps HQ poll and will get the top seed in Division I.

The NCS playoffs were supposed to start next Friday night but were pushed back a week because the Kincade Fire caused several schools in the North Bay to postpone games. Now they can hopefully play next week and finish their seasons.