NFC-AFC Hall of Fame Exhibition Game : 49ers Get a Taylor-Made Victory, 20-7

John Taylor, who spent 1986 on the San Francisco 49ers’ injured reserve list, didn’t want to waste any time reminding Coach Bill Walsh what he can do.

Walsh seemed thoroughly convinced after Taylor returned one punt 64 yards for a touchdown and another 49 yards to set up San Francisco’s other touchdown Saturday as the 49ers beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 20-7, in the annual Hall of Fame exhibition game.

“John Taylor will be a valuable player for us, both as a receiver and as a special teams player,” Walsh said. Taylor, a third-round draft choice from Delaware State in 1986, sat out last season because of a back injury, and he is trying to win a job as a receiver despite heavy competition at that position.

“Everybody’s battling for position, really,” Taylor said. “I want to start (as a receiver), but special teams is OK.”

Taylor returned Lewis Colbert’s punt 49 yards to the Kansas City 41-yard line early in the second quarter to start the 49ers’ first touchdown drive, and he ran 64 yards down the right sideline just before halftime to put San Francisco ahead, 20-0.

Taylor also had a 17-yard return.

Joe Montana started at quarterback for the 49ers and played most of the first half, although Steve Young, the newcomer from Tampa Bay and the United States Football League, relieved him for several downs.

Montana completed 9 of 14 passes for 120 yards, including a 39-yarder to Jerry Rice that set up Ray Wersching’s 25-yard field goal in the first quarter. He also completed three long passes on a second-quarter drive capped by Jeff Brockhaus’ 42-yard field goal.

Montana did not play in the second half.

The Kansas City offense, which ranked last in the NFL a year ago, showed little improvement Saturday, penetrating no farther than the 49ers’ 38-yard line until a 41-yard pass interference penalty set up Andre Garron’s one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

The only encouraging sign for the Chiefs’ offense came from second-round draft pick Christian Okoye of Azusa Pacific. The Nigerian-born 253-pounder, who has played organized football for only three years, ran the ball eight times for 74 yards.