SATURDAY'S STAR
Tennessee defensive end Kyle Phillips is assembling a quality senior year. He led a commendable performance for the Volunteers on his side of the ball Saturday with two tackles for loss and two pass breakups. Phillips surpassed his previous career high for tackles in a season (36) during the game and made a crucial fourth-down stop in the fourth quarter.
SATURDAY'S STAT
Vols quarterback Jarrett Guarantano has gone five straight games without throwing an interception.
TURNING POINT
Marquez Callaway showed why he remained the Vols' punt returner after some bobbles early in the season when he meandered 82 yards, mostly untouched, for a first-quarter touchdown. Callaway's return likely was the special-teams highlight of the season for Tennessee. It put the Vols ahead early and for good.
HIGHLIGHT PLAY
Jeremy Banks took a handoff in the third quarter and then pitched the ball back to Guarantano, who tried to unleash a bomb. A Charlotte defender walloped Guarantano as he released the football, causing it to soar. But receiver Josh Palmer shed his defender, camped out under the ball and caught it for a 45-yard gain.
WHAT IT MEANS
A more dominant victory would have been reassuring for a team that still has just one win over a Power Five conference team. But the Vols have positioned themselves to make a bowl game if they can win two of their last three games against decent but not overwhelming Southeastern Conference opponents.
HOW THEY SCORED
FIRST QUARTER
UT - Marquez Callaway 82-yard punt return (Brent Cimaglia kick), 7:42
Key play: An illegal-formation penalty on Charlotte negated an effective punt that would have pinned the Vols on their own 5-yard line. The 49ers rekicked, and Callaway made them pay.
TENNESSEE 7, CHARLOTTE 0
UT - Josh Palmer 16-yard pass from Jarrett Guarantano (Cimaglia kick), 0:17
Drive: 6 plays, 63 yards, 3:22
Key play: Guarantano threw a beautiful pass to tight end Dominick Wood-Anderson for 33 yards down the left sideline to set up the Vols' second score.
TENNESSEE 14, CHARLOTTE 0
SECOND QUARTER
C - Jonathan Cruz 20-yard field goal, 0:17
Drive: 12 plays, 87 yards, 5:57
Key play: Workpeh Kofa broke free and hauled in a 28-yard pass from Evan Shirreffs into Tennessee territory.
TENNESSEE 14, CHARLOTTE 3