(Radio Iowa) – The mayors of Altoona, Iowa and Altoona, Wisconsin are holding a friendly wager between the two communities as Iowa plays Wisconsin in football on Saturday. Mayor Dean O’Connor, of the Iowa Altoona, says he’s hoping this will be the second bet he’s won this season, following the Hawkeyes’ victory over the Nittany Lions.

O’Connor says the Altoona restaurant that was offering up the steaks in the original bet, signed back on for the new bet against Wisconsin.

The mayor says this could become an annual tradition.

Altoona, Iowa won the bet with Altoona, Pennsylvania and was sent six boxes of Mallo Cups, a chocolate-covered marshmallow candy. O’Connor says those treats, along with local cash donations of $10,000, will be taken to Iowa City this week to be given to the U-I Hospitals and Clinics. Unlike many Iowa town names, Altoona does not have Native American roots. O’Connor says the name comes from the Latin word “altus,” meaning high point or high place.

(Radio Iowa) – The UNI Panthers are up to 17th in the latest FCS coaches poll. The Panthers snapped a two game losing skid with a victory at sixth ranked South Dakota State. They host third ranked Southern Illinois on Saturday.

That’s UNI coach Mark Farley. Sophomore quarterback Nic Baker leads a Saluki offense that is scoring nearly 38 points per game.

Farley says Baker is elusive in the pocket.

The Salukis are tied at the top of the Missouri Valley standings with a 4-0 record. The rest of the league already has two or more losses.

Farley says there is a lot of balance in the league.

The Panthers are 4-3 overall.