With a slight breeze in his face, Michael Braunstein lined up for what would be the last play of the first half in Ohio’s Homecoming game against Eastern Michigan. He was to attempt a 54-yard field goal that could break the school record for consecutive field goals made as a Bobcat with 11 or snap his streak of then 18 straight, which spanned two seasons.

“He keeps telling me he’s ready for 50-yarders in practice,” coach Frank Solich said after the game. “So we were going to give him a shot at it.”

But Braunstein never got the chance. Backup quarterback and holder Josh Febus bobbled the snap, so at least temporarily Braunstein’s streak remained intact.

Braunstein knows he could have made that kick, though.

OK, even Braunstein admits it’s hard to say for certain that he would have made the kick, because despite having success from that range in practice, all it would take is a turn of the foot, a missed block or an insecure hold to end the streak.

But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t think he’d make that kick most of the time.

“Confidence and cockiness gets mixed up a lot,” said the Gilbert, Ariz., native whose 19 consecutive field goals stand as the longest active streak in the country after North Carolina’s Connor Barth (who had 19 straight as well) missed.

This summer, Braunstein worked out with Arizona State’s Thomas Weber, who holds the second longest streak with 14 straight. After each game, he sends Weber a text message to see how his lead is holding up.

“I have a lot of confidence in my ability,” Braunstein said. “Every time I walk out on to the field — I’m going to make it, period. That’s the attitude I take out there every time, and that’s the attitude every kicker should take out there.”

Braunstein knows he comes off as cocky, but that’s just his personality. And his consistency in field goals, extra points and kickoffs gives him the right to be cavalier.

Yes, he’s loud and outspoken and will be the first to make fun of a teammate during practice, but on fourth down the joking stops and concentration begins. On kickoffs, he dishes out blocks that opponents hardly expect from a 5-foot-6 kicker. It’s precisely those dual attributes that the Bobcats like about him.

“I can’t say enough about him,” quarterback Brad Bower said. “The way he kicks the ball, the way he makes things happen on the field — that’s what we need, somebody who’s clutch like that when the pressure’s on."

One mention of Braunstein’s name to Ohio players or coaches, and they immediately crack a huge smile. He doesn’t mind being a source of comic relief — as demonstrated at last Friday’s Yell Like Hell pep rally.

A group of football players joined the dance team on the basketball court to perform their own rendition of the “Crank That” dance by Soulja Boy Tellem — and Braunstein was smack dab in the middle of the floor dancing away. (For those who weren’t lucky enough to be in The Convo to see the dance in person, go to www.youtube.com and search “crank that OU.”)

As Braunstein plows through his best year as a collegiate kicker yet, it’s inescapable that the brazen personality that played a part in his not being invited back for a fifth year at Washington is exactly why he’s thriving with the Bobcats.

“I got here in a bitter way. When I left Washington it was definitely not on the right foot,” Braunstein said. “But everything happens for a reason. That’s something I live by. I was looking into jobs already … but then I found the program, a quarter school and now I’m getting my master’s degree, and I’m having the best season I could. It seems like this was supposed to happen.”

Katie Carrera is the sports senior writer for The Post and covers football. Send her an e-mail at kc207604@ohiou.edu.